Pest categorisation of non‐EU Tephritidae

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Published on: Mon, 27 Jan 2020

The Panel on Plant Health performed a group pest categorisation of non‐EU Tephritidae, a large insect family containing well‐studied and economically important fruit fly species and little studied species with scarce information regarding their hosts and species that do not feed on plants. Information was saught on the distribution of each species and their hosts. Tephritidae occur in all biogeographic regions except in extreme desert and polar areas, where their hosts are scarce or absent. Non‐European Tephritidae are listed in 2000/29 EC as Annex 1/A1 pests whose introduction into the EU is prohibited. Non‐EU Tephritidae are regularly intercepted in the EU. Interceptions mainly occur on fruits although there is potential for entry on other plant parts. Beginning with over 5,000 recognised species, factors relevant for pest categorisation were sequentially used to narrow down the list of species to create a list of Tephritidae not known to be established in the EU yet which occur in countries with some EU climate types and which feed on plants that occur in the EU. Following the introduction of pest species, impacts on cultivated host plants could result in yield and quality losses; harmful impacts on wild hosts are uncertain. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the entry of non‐EU Tephritidae. Results are presented in a series of appendices listing species screened during the process. Of 4,765 species regarded as non‐EU Tephritidae, 257 species satisfy the criteria assessed by EFSA such that they can be considered as potential quarantine pests for the EU. Lack of information of the distribution of hosts and/or impact on wild hosts means 1,087 species of non‐EU Tephritidae do not satisfy all criteria to be considered as potential quarantine pests for the EU. Non‐EU Tephritidae do not meet the criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as regulated non‐quarantine pests, as members of the group are not present in the EU and plants for planting are not the main means of spread.