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| 2. |
- Krokene, Paal, et al.
(författare)
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Pest risk categorization – New plant health regulations for Norway : Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Plant Health of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment
- 2021
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Rapport (refereegranskat)abstract
- In an ongoing effort to renew Norwegian regulations related to plants and measures against plant pests, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority asked The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) which of the currently regulated pests that should still be regulated (either as a quarantine pest (QP) or a regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP) for Norway), and whether there are any species that should be deregulated. Following such a risk categorization process the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will determine if pest risk assessments (PRA’s) should be performed for quarantine pests. International trade regulations define quarantine pests (QPs) as pests of potential economic importance to an area that are not yet present, or are present but not widely distributed and are subject to official control. A regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP) is a pest whose presence in plants for planting affects the intended use of those plants with an economically unacceptable impact and which is therefore subject to official control within the territory of the importing contracting party and regulated in international trade. In this report VKM presents an overview of the pest categorisation of some of the pests regulated in the current Norwegian regulation and concludes on whether each pest should be regulated as a potential QP, RNQP or none of these categories for Norway. The pest categorisation process – the process of determining whether a pest has or has not the characteristics of a QP or RNQP – has been done using the FinnPRIO model. The FinnPRIO model is a pest risk ranking tool that uses a hypervolume approach carry out quick, semiquantitative expert assessments and that allows a high number of pest risk categorizations to be done cost-effectively and in a short period of time. In total 33 pests were assessed as per request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Of those 33 pests VKM suggests that the vast majority – 32 pests – are kept as a QPs for Norway. However, one pest, the cherry leafroll nepovirus (EPPO code CLRV00), fulfils the requirements for being a RNQP since it is most likely present in Norway already. Furthermore, one organism, the flatworm Arthurdendyus triangulates (ARDDTR), is suggested to not be regulated as QP or RNQP. This pest does not fulfil the requirements for being a QP since it would probably not cause direct damage to plants if it established in Norway. Also, it does not fulfill the requirements for being a regulated non-quarantine pest(RNQP) since its potential presence in plants for planting does not directly affect the intended use of those plants with an economically unacceptable impact.
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- Stenberg, Johan A., et al.
(författare)
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Pest risk assessment of selected Epitrix species : Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Plant Health of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment
- 2019
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Epitrix is a taxonomically complex genus, with 162 described species all over the world, and most likely many more undescribed species. Due to taxonomic difficulties identifying the species, there is considerable uncertainty regarding which species that feed on cultivated crops. At least 13 Epitrix species are known to damage the tubers of potato, which is the crop of concern in northern Europe. At least five of those Epitrix species (E. hirtipennis, E. fasciata, E.cucumeris, E. papa and E. pubescens) have established themselves outside their native range, spurring concerns that they may spread further and potentially cause damage in new areas where potato is cultivated. It is unknown how most of these species have moved from country to country, but there have been several interceptions of unknown Epitrix species in shipments of ware potatoes.
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| 6. |
- Stenberg, Johan A., et al.
(författare)
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Risk assessment of the biological control product Atheta-System with the organism Atheta coriaria Kraatz : Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Plant Health of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment
- 2020
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Atheta-System with the rove beetle Atheta coriaria (Kraatz 1856) as the active organism is sought to be used as a biocontrol agent for augmentation biological control in Norway. Atheta-System is intended for use against soil dwelling stages of fungus gnats (e.g. Bradysiapaupera), shore flies (Scatella stagnalis), and thrips (e.g. Frankliniella occidentallis) in greenhouses, plastic tunnels, and other closed or controlled climate cultivations of horticultural crops, incl. soft-fruit crops, vegetables, ornamentals, and kitchen herbs.
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| 7. |
- Thomsen, Iben M, et al.
(författare)
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Updated pest risk assessment of Phytophthora ramorum in Norway : Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Plant Health of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment
- 2023
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Rapport (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has asked the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment for an updated pest risk assessment of Phytophthora ramorum in Norway. The previous risk assessment of P. ramorum for Norway is from 2009. Since then, the pathogen has been detected repeatedly in Norway, primarily in parks, garden centres, and nurseries in southwestern Norway. The knowledge base concerning P. ramorum has changed since the last pest risk assessment, with increased genetic knowledge about different populations, lineages, and mating types. The risks associated with P. ramorum have also changed, since the disease has become epidemic in new host plants, such as larch trees in England. This updated pest risk assessment will provide important input to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s efforts to develop the Norwegian plant health regulation.
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| 9. |
- Alsanius, Beatrix, et al.
(författare)
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Updated pest risk assessment of Phytophthora ramorum in Norway
- 2023
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Rapport (refereegranskat)abstract
- IntroductionThe Norwegian Food Safety Authority has asked the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment for an updated pest risk assessment of Phytophthora ramorum in Norway. The previous risk assessment of P. ramorum for Norway is from 2009. Since then, the pathogen has been detected repeatedly in Norway, primarily in parks, garden centres, and nurseries in southwestern Norway. The knowledge base concerning P. ramorum has changed since the last pest risk assessment, with increased genetic knowledge about different populations, lineages, and mating types. The risks associated with P. ramorum have also changed, since the disease has become epidemic in new host plants, such as larch trees in England. This updated pest risk assessment will provide important input to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s efforts to develop the Norwegian plant health regulation.MethodsVKM established a project group with expertise in plant health, forest pathology, horticultural plant pathology, plant disease modelling, and pest risk assessment. The group conducted systematic literature searches and scrutinized the relevant literature. In the absence of Norwegian studies, VKM relied on literature from other countries. The group did a quantitative risk assessment describing the level of confidence in the conclusions and identifying uncertainties and data gaps. The report underwent pre-submission commenting and external expert reviewing before final approval and publication.Results and conclusionsPhytophthora ramorum is present in the PRA area but has a restricted distribution, mainly being detected in the southern and southwestern parts of Norway.The only P. ramorum lineage considered to be present in Norway is EU1 with mating type A1. The other lineage in Europe, EU2, has so far mainly been documented from the UK. The most widely distributed multilocus genotype of P. ramorum in Norway is EU1MLG1, which became dominant in Europe (including Norway) after 2008. In North America, the NA1, NA2, and EU1 lineages are known from both nurseries and forests. NA1 and NA2 are of the opposite mating type (A2) than European lineages. Recently, various other lineages of P. ramorum have been described from Asia. The main risks for future problems with P. ramorum in Norway are related to entry and establishment of non-European isolates (of all lineages), as well as emergence of new genotypes in European P. ramorum populations.There are several options for diagnosing P. ramorum to species and lineage (mainly EU1, EU2, NA1, and NA2). From a management perspective it is more important to distinguish these entities than mating type and isolate groups (genotypes). The latter are mainly relevant for research purposes or in cases of unexpected disease developments, such as new hosts, increased spread or more severe symptoms on known hosts. However, for more detailed regulation, monitoring, and management of P. ramorum it could also be useful to test for genotypes, i.e. to distinguish EU1MLG1 from other genotypes.Rhododendron remains the most important host plant for P. ramorum in Norway, both in terms of imported plants and detections (mainly in nurseries, garden centres, and public parks). Species in other ornamental plant genera, such as Viburnum, Pieris, and Kalmia, are also listed as major hosts in Europe, and P. ramorum has been detected at least once on species in all these genera in Norway. In the US, Rhododendron, Viburnum, Pieris, Syringa, and Camellia are considered to be the main ornamental hosts. In Norway, there has been one documented detection of P. ramorum on Syringa. Vaccinium and several tree species are potential hosts in the wider environment in Norway, but these hosts are most likely to be infected on sites where rhododendrons are affected by P. ramorum.We consider the probability of entry of P. ramorum to Norway to be very likely, with a low level of uncertainty. Plants for planting, in particular rhododendron and other ornamental hosts, remain the most important entry pathway for P. ramorum. Due to the high import volumes to Norway from Europe, nurseries in the EU are still the main sources of infected plants.If efforts to prevent import of infected plants and to eradicate P. ramorum infestations are discontinued, we consider it very likely that the pathogen will eventually establish in or spread to new areas in Norway. There is a high potential for establishment and spread of P. ramorum along the southwestern and southern coast of Norway, where climatic conditions are favourable for the pathogen and rhododendron and other hosts are common.We consider the overall probability of spread of P. ramorum in Norway after establishment to be moderately likely, with a medium level of uncertainty. Despite repeated detections of the pathogen in some locations, further spread seems to be local and limited. New sites with P. ramorum outbreaks have been rare in Norway in the last decade. Whether this is due to import regulations, eradication efforts (removal of infected plants) or other factors is difficult to determine. Despite the limited spread of P. ramorum in Norway so far, the potential for persisting infections and spread in areas with a conducive climate (high precipitation) cannot be ignored.Phytophthora ramorum still meets the criteria for being regulated as a potential quarantine pest, at least all other lineages than EU1 – thought to be the only lineage present in Norway. For the EU1 lineage, a possible categorization for European isolates is ‘regulated nonquarantine pest’, whereas non-European EU1 isolates fulfil the criteria of being a quarantine pest. Within the EU1 lineage there are different isolate groups, and new genotypes may arise. If the genotype of EU1 isolates detected in imported plant materials differs from isolates that are already present in Norway, European EU1 isolates also fit the category ‘quarantine pest’.The potential effect of introducing new lineages, mating types or isolate groups is considered to be similar for new areas in Norway and areas where P. ramorum is already present. If the pathogen becomes widely spread and/or more genotypically diverse, the potential for damage is considered to be high, due to disease development in infected trees and the possibility of shifts in host plants. In addition to preventing new introductions, it is important to limit domestic spread of the pathogen from known infestations and, if possible, to eradicate P. ramorum from those sites. The longer P. ramorum is present at a site, and the more widespread the pathogen becomes, the higher is the risk that the pathogen will adapt to (new) local hosts and environmental factors.Monitoring host plants for symptoms and testing for the presence of P. ramorum, especially on imported plants, remain the best risk-reducing options. Other effective risk-reducing options are prompt removal and destruction of infected ornamental hosts, in particular rhododendron, and to not replant with susceptible plant species. For infected trees, the best management measures depend on the situation, but infected larch trees should always be removed and destroyed. For non-transmissive tree species, such as beech, the risk of inadvertently spreading the pathogen during felling activities should be weighed against the risk associated with leaving an infected tree on site. Finally, it can be useful to run public awareness campaigns about the importance of cleaning soil from footgear and other items after visiting areas where P. ramorum is present (both in Norway and abroad), as well as other risk-reducing options for private gardens.
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| 10. |
- Edsman, Lennart
(författare)
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Assessment of the risk to Norwegian biodiversity from import and keeping of crustaceans in freshwater aquaria
- 2021
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Rapport (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) was requested by the Norwegian Environment Agency to assess the risk of negative impacts to biodiversity in Norway resulting from import of crustacean decapods for keeping in freshwater aquariums. VKM was asked to 1) list species of crayfish, crabs and shrimps that are currently kept in freshwater aquaria in Norway, and species that are likely to be kept in freshwater aquaria in Norway within the next 10 years, 2) assess the ability of the species to survive under Norwegian conditions and cause impacts on ecosystems and other species, and 3) state the potential negative effects on the biological diversity of diseases caused by pathogens, regulated under the Norwegian Food Act.Methods The risk assessment, without focus on pathogens, was performed in two steps. First, we used a pre-screening toolkit to identify species of crayfish, crabs and shrimps with potential to become invasive in freshwater habitats in Norway. Each species was given an invasiveness score based on 55 questions on biogeography, ecology, and climate change. In a second step, a full risk assessment, including the potential impacts of pathogens, was conducted on those species receiving the highest invasiveness score. This assessment included questions on the organism’s probability of entry and pathways of entry, establishment and spread, potential impacts on biodiversity, and how climate change scenarios might affect the assessment. Likelyhood and confidence was assessed for each question. In conclusion, each species was designated as either low-, moderate-, or high risk. Many crustacean decapod species are confirmed or suspected carriers of pathogens that can cause mass mortality among native crustaceans. The risk posed by crustaceans as carriers of pathogens may be independent of the environmental risk that they pose through ecological interactions. Therefore, the four crustacean disease pathogens that are regulated under the Norwegian Food Act, were assessed separately. These include Aphanomyces astaci causing crayfish plague, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) causing white spot disease, Taura syndrome virus (TSV) causing Taura syndrome, and yellow head virus genotype 1 (YHV1) causing yellow head disease. The assessments comprised questions on the pathogen’s probability of entry (as a hitchhiker organism with imported crustaceans), pathways of entry, establishment and spread, and potential impact on crustacean biodiversity. Likelihood and confidence were assessed for each question. In conclusion, each pathogen was designated as either low-, moderate-, or high risk.In a third step, we categorized the likelihood that a crustacean species introduces a pathogen associated with a high- or moderate risk into: I) known chronic carriers, II) suspected chronic carriers, III) suspected situational carrier, IV) possible pathogen transmitters, and V) no direct or circumstantial evidence for carrier status or pathogen transmission in the genus.Results Based on information from the Norwegian Pet Trade Association, the project group listed 112 taxa (mainly species and some genera) of freshwater crayfish, crabs and shrimps that are relevant for trade in Norway. These included 38 crayfish taxa, 28 crab taxa, and 45 shrimp taxa. In addition, one marine crab was included. Sixteen species of crayfish, four species of shrimps, and two species of crabs underwent a full ecological risk assessment. The probabilities of entry both into the aquarium trade in Norway, and potentially further into Norwegian nature, were based on the prevalence of the species in the aquarium trade in Norway. We assumed that all species were equally likely to escape captivity or to be released. The four pathogens regulated under the Norwegian Food Act are either known or potential hazards to biodiversity in Norway. A. astaci is already present in Norway. It is regarded among the greatest threats to European freshwater crayfish, including noble crayfish (Astacus astacus). American freshwater crayfish are either known or suspected chronic carriers of A. astaci, while several crayfish species from other continents, as well as some species of crab and shrimp, may be situational carriers. WSSV is a "non-exotic" list 2 disease. All decapods can be infected by the virus. WSSV is primarily a problem in shrimp farming in Asia, but has spread to America and more recently to Australia. WSSV can cause 100% mortality in noble crayfish at water temperatures above 20 °C. Both TSV and YHV1 are "exotic" list 1 diseases. These can infect and cause high mortality in a limited range of saltwater shrimps. There is no evidence that TSV and YHV1 pose a risk to freshwater crayfish in the Nordic climate, nor is introduction likely through aquarium trade in freshwater crustaceans. Several other pathogens that cause crustacean dirsease are listed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). These were briefly assessed, but not fully risk assessed.Conclusions VKM concluded that the risk of negative impacts on biodiversity caused by ecological interactions following import and private keeping of crayfish is high for Faxonius virilis, Faxonius spp., Procambarus clarkii, P. virginalis, and Pacifastacus leniusculus. These species can displace native crayfish, reduce the abundance of aquatic plants, and cause cascading effects that negatively influence invertebrates, fish, and birds. They can likely establish in Norwegian nature under the current climate conditions. The risk of negative consequences is moderate (with medium confidence) for the crayfish Cambarellus patzcuarensis, Procambarus alleni, Creaserinus fodiens, Cambarellus montezumae, Cherax monticola, Cherax tenuimanus, Faxonius neglectus. Perconon gibbesi of the crabs and Neocaridina davidi and Macrobrachium rosenbergii of the shrimps were associated with a moderate risk with medium confidence. Species associated with medium risk are omnivorous keystone species that will have at least moderate ecological impact on littoral freshwater ecosystems (medium confidence) if established in dense populations. None of the species associated with medium risk are likely to establish today. However, climate change will increase the risk for establishment and resulting ecological impact. The risk for negative impacts caused by the crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci is high with high confidence. Crayfish plague can cause up to 100% mortality, and has already eradicated several noble crayfish populations in Norway. For WSSV, the risk for negative impact is moderate with high confidence. The risks associated with TSV and YHV1 are assessed as low for Norwegian crustacean biodiversity. According to the risk assessment of pathogens and the categorization of crustacean species based on their likelihood of being carriers of A. astaci and WSSV, 25 and 13 species of crayfish are associated with a high and medium risk, respectively. Four and 25 species of crabs are associated with a medium and low risk, respectively, and 14 and 31 species of shrimps are associated with medium and low risk, respectively. Notably, all species in the named genera should be regarded as belonging to the given risk category. OIE and general literature provide information of known crustacean diseases along with known susceptible crustacean hosts. However, there is a lack of information regarding carrier status of known and unknown disease pathogens for many exotic crustaceans. In this perspective, all exotic crustaceans should be regarded as potentially infected with a known or unknown pathogen. In order to reduce the risk of spreading diseases, eggs and living or dead animals should under no circumstances be disposed of in nature. The same applies for aquarium water or any material, such as gravel or ornamental plants, that have been in contact with the animals or water in the aquarium. The current permit requirement exemption for import of freshwater organisms that can only survive at temperatures above 5 °C provides no protection against the introduction, establishment, and spread of accompanying pathogens that could cause mass mortality in Norwegian crustacean populations. Finally, we can never predict how, or from which host species, a new disease might emerge. Many pandemics and plagues result from cross-continental pathogen-host jumps often facilitated by human transport, trade, introduction, release, or escape of alien species and associated alien pathogens.
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