Table 9.
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 pests (Section 3.1) |
The identity of Helicoverpa zea is well established and there are taxonomic keys available for its identification to species level In the current EU legislation Helicoverpa zea is referred to with its synonym Heliothis zea |
The identity of Helicoverpa zea is well established and there are taxonomic keys available for its identification to species level | |
| Absence/presence of the pest in the EU territory (Section 3.2) | H. zea is not known to be present in the EU | H. zea is not known to be present in the EU | |
| Regulatory status (Section 3.3) | The pest is listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, Annex II, Part A, list of Union quarantine pests and their respective codes of Pests not known to occur in the Union territory | There are no grounds to consider its status as a quarantine pest to be revoked | |
| Pest potential for entry, establishment and spread in the EU territory (Section 3.4) | H. zea could enter into, become established in, and spread within, the EU territory. The main entry pathways are: via cut flowers, fruits, plants for planting with and without soil attached and soil/growing media | Adults are strong flyers and plants for planting would not be the main means of spread in the EU | |
| Potential for consequences in the EU territory (Section 3.5) | The pests’ introduction would most probably have an economic impact in the EU | Should the pest be present on plants for planting, an economic impact on its intended use would be expected | |
| Available measures (Section 3.6) | Measures exist which can mitigate the risks of entry, establishment, and spread within the EU. As a pest listed in Annex IIA, its introduction and spread in the EU is banned irrespective of what it may be found on | Because of the polyphagous nature of the organism on hosts which are widely available outdoors and its high dispersal ability it would be difficult for measures to be effective | |
| Conclusion on pest categorisation (Section 4) | All criteria assessed by EFSA above for consideration as a potential quarantine pest are met with no uncertainties | The criteria of the pest being present in the EU territory and plants for planting being the main means of spread, which are the pre‐requisites for consideration as a potential RNQP, are not met | |
| Aspects of assessment to focus on/scenarios to address in future if appropriate | |||