Risk assessment and reduction options for Ceratocystis platani in the EU

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health (PLH) Panel performed a riskassessment forCeratocystis plataniin the EU with the aim to assess the effectiveness of risk reductionoptions (RROs) on the basis of the mechanisms of spread identified in the pest categorisation (naturaland human-assisted means, including waterways, root anastomosis, contaminated pruning tools,machinery, insects, contaminated insect frass and sawdust).C. plataniis a destructive pathogen ofPlatanustrees, which is currently present in the EU (in France, Greece and Italy). Three scenarios wereconsidered: the current situation (A0scenario); the situation without RROs (A1); and the application ofadditional RROs (A2). The risk of new introductions into the EU ofC. plataniby means of the mainpathways of entry (i.e. plants for planting, wood and machinery, e.g. construction machinery andpruning/cutting tools) is relatively limited, but about 250 times higher for the A1scenario compared tothe A2scenario (median numbers of established populations). The risk of spread from already affectedEU regions is higher, but varies depending on the scenario. Machinery is the most important mechanismof long-distance spread. Focusing the additional RROs in A2scenario on this mechanism of spread–which is not currently regulated–would be an effective way to reduce the likelihood of further spreadand thus impacts ofC. platanito not yet affected EU regions. The emergency measures applied by theC. platani-affected EU Member States (France, Greece and Italy) could be harmonised and improved.An enhanced programme could be developed which includes surveillance, early detection of the diseasefoci, effective eradication measures and planting resistantPlatanusclones in new plantations in affectedareas. Surveillance could also be intensified in the EU MSs not yet known to be affected by the disease.