Citrus junos as a host of citrus bacterial canker

Following a request from the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) PlantHealth (PLH) Panel analysed a dossier submitted by the Japanese authorities in order to clarify the hoststatus ofCitrus junoswith regard toXanthomonas citripv.citriandXanthomonas citripv.aurantifolii,causal agents of citrus bacterial canker, and to indicate whetherC. junosfruit could represent apathway for the introduction of citrus bacterial canker into the European Union. In a previous opinion inthe year 2014, the EFSA PLH Panel concluded that commercial fresh citrus fruit is generally pathwayand that no commercially importantCitrusspecies or variety can be considered as immune to citrusbacterial canker. In the current assessment, the EFSA PLH Panel analysed the two scientific papersprovided by the Japanese authorities, as well as 16 additional papers identified through a systematicliterature review. The PLH Panel considered that the conclusions of its previous opinion remain validand that convergent lines of evidence provide sufficient demonstration thatC. junosis a host ofX. citripv.citriandX. citripv.aurantifolii. Therefore, there is no reason to consider theC. junosfruitdifferently from other citrus species. Consequently, the assessment of the general citrus fruit pathwayfrom the 2014 opinion still applies. Uncertainties on these conclusions are a result of the scarcescientific evidence published on this subject in addition to the methodological and reporting limitationsof the published papers