Table 5.

The Panel's conclusions on the pest categorisation criteria defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against pests of plants (the number of the relevant sections of the pest categorisation is shown in brackets in the first column)

Criterion of pest categorisation	Panel's conclusions against criterion in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 regarding Union quarantine pest	Panel's conclusions against criterion in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 regarding Union regulated non‐quarantine pest	Key uncertainties
Identity of the pest (Section  3.1 )	The identity of the pest (F. oxysporum f. sp. albedinis) is clearly defined and there are reliable methods for its detection and identification	The identity of the pest (F. oxysporum f. sp. albedinis) is clearly defined and there are reliable methods for its detection and identification	None
Absence/presence of the pest in the EU territory (Section  3.2 )	The pest is not known to occur in the EU	The pest is not known to occur in the EU	None
Regulatory status (Section  3.3 )	The pest is currently officially regulated as quarantine pest on Phoenix spp. other than fruit and seeds (Dir 2000/29/EC)	The pest is currently officially regulated as quarantine pest on Phoenix spp. other than fruit and seeds (Dir 2000/29/EC)	None
Pest potential for entry, establishment and spread in the EU territory (Section  3.4 )	The pest could potentially enter, establish and spread in the EU. Pathways of entry: Host plants, excluding fruits and seeds, and soil/growing media originating in infested Third countries	The pest could potentially spread in the EU through movement of host plants for planting, soil and/or growing media, and natural means. Therefore, plants for planting is a main pathway, but not the only one.	There is uncertainty on the host status of Lawsonia inermis, Medicago sativa and Trifolium spp. (Uncertainty 1). There is no import data on host plants for planting or soil/growing media from infested third countries (Uncertainty 2). There is no data about the distribution of P. dactylifera in the EU (Uncertainty 3). There is no information on the distance that infested soil particles and conidia can travel by wind (Uncertainty 4).
Potential for consequences in the EU territory (Section  3.5 )	The introduction and spread of the pest in the EU could cause mortality of P. dactylifera trees in nurseries as well as in areas where P. dactylifera is grown for date production (South Eastern of Spain). The introduction and spread of the pest in the EU could have a high environmental impact in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Elche region (Spain), and consequences on the aesthetic value of parks and roads where P. dactylifera is used as an amenity tree.	The spread of the pest in the EU could cause losses as regards the intended use of P. dactylifera plants for planting	There is no data about the distribution of P. dactylifera in the EU (Uncertainty 3).
Available measures (Section  3.6 )	There are measures to prevent the entry of the pest into the EU but the currently applied phytosanitary measures are not fully effective: Phytosanitary measures currently in place prevent the entry into the EU of the pest on host plants originating from Algeria and Morocco but not from Mauritania. Phytosanitary measures currently in place prevent the entry into the EU of the pest on soil/growing media (not associated with plants) originating from Algeria and Mauritania but not from Morocco. Phytosanitary measures currently in place prevent the entry into the EU of the pest on soil/growing media associated with plants originating from Mauritania but not from Algeria and Morocco. There are no fully effective measures to prevent establishment and spread.	There are no fully effective measures to prevent pest presence on host plants for planting.	None
Conclusion on pest categorisation (Section  4 )	F. oxysporum f. sp. albedinis meets all the criteria assessed by EFSA above for consideration as potential Union quarantine pest	F. oxysporum f. sp. albedinis is not known to occur in the EU. Therefore, it does not meet at least one of the criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as Union regulated non‐quarantine pest.	None
Aspects of assessment to focus on/scenarios to address in future if appropriate	None