Pest risk assessment made by France on Banana streak virus (BSV) considered by France as harmful in French overseas departments of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Plant Health

• Authors : EFSA Panel on Plant Health


• Document type : Journal article


• Year of publication : 2008


• Journal title : EFSA Journal


• Number : 667




• Pages : 1-24


• Peer-reviewed : Yes


• ISSN : 1831-4732


• Language(s) : English


• Abstract : Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Plant Health was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on 30 pest risk assessments made by France on organisms which are considered by France as harmful in four French overseas departments, i.e. French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. In particular, the Panel was asked whether these organisms can be considered as harmful organisms for the endangered area of the above departments, in the meaning of the definition mentioned in Article 2.1.(e) of Directive 2000/29/EC and thus potentially eligible for addition to the list of harmful organisms in Directive 2000/29/EC. This document presents the opinion of the Panel on Plant Health on the full with French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion considered as endangered area. pest risk assessment conducted by France on Banana streak virus (BSV) BSV is a virus in the genus Badnavirus, family Caulimoviridae, which infects banana and plantain. Banana streak virus is no longer the name for a unique virus since several distinct species, in what is now a BSV-complex, have recently been identified. In this document BSV covers all known species and strains in the BSV-complex. The Panel examined in detail the risk assessment and considered the accuracy and quality of the information provided and methods applied for pest risk assessment purposes. The review was based on the principles of the International Standard on Phytosanitary Measures ISPM No. 11: Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks and living modified organisms (2004) by the International Plant Protection Convention (FAO, 2007b). Although the information provided in the French risk assessment required updating with additional information available since the assessment was carried out, the Panel agrees that BSV, now recognised as a species complex of banana streak viruses, is a serious pathogen of banana, and poses a potential risk to banana production in the French overseas departments. The French document concludes that the phytosanitary risk associated with BSV is extremely high particularly due to the risk of activated virus pathogens in the M. balbisiana genome during import or production of vitroplants. However, analytical methods for virus indexing developed since the French assessment, now enable detection of the endogenous nature (of BSV) in the Musa balbisiana genome. In addition, the Panel considers the phytosanitary risk overrated. The Panel agrees that BSV has a high probability of entry and a high probability of establishment in the French overseas departments, in the absence of existing controls. It agrees that the international movement of large quantities of vitroplants represents the most important entry pathway. The Panel further considers that virus indexing of mother plants used for vitroplant production provides an effective means to prevent entry of BSV. Uncertainties are noted particularly regarding the role of mealybug vectors in BSV transmission and dissemination of the disease, and on the potential economic impact of BSV in the PRA area. However, the Panel regards BSV as a serious pathogen of banana and the economic impact of the disease increasing with the percentage of BSV occurring in the field. Hence in the absence of virus indexing, the importation of large quantities of BSV-infected vitroplants is likely to have a serious economic impact especially for Guadeloupe and Martinique, where banana production represents a very significant proportion of agricultural activities. The overall conclusion of the Panel is that BSV is appropriate for analysis of risk management options and is thus potentiallyeligible for addition to the list of harmful organisms of Directive 2000/29/EC.


• Keywords : BANANA STREAK VIRUS; FRANCE; GUADELOUPE; MARTINIQUE; FRENCH GUIANA; REUNION; PEST RISK ANALYSIS


• Open access : Yes


• Document on publisher's site : View article on publisher's site


• Musalit document ID : IN150012

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