Guidance on the use of the Threshold of Toxicological Concern approach in food safety assessment.

The Scientific Committee confirms that the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) is a pragmatic screening and prioritisation tool for use in food safety assessment. This Guidance provides clear step-by-step instructions for use of the TTC approach. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are defined and the use of the TTC decision tree is explained.

Pest categorisation of non-EU viruses of L.

Following a request from the EU Commission, the Panel on Plant Health addressed the pest categorisation of the viruses of L. determined as being either non-EU or of undetermined standing in a previous EFSA opinion. These infectious agents belong to different genera and are heterogeneous in their biology.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the Mexican corn rootworm, for the EU. This is one of two subspecies of which occurs in Central America, Mexico and central southern parts of the USA (Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico). The preferred larval host is maize () roots, although larvae can feed on the roots of sorghum and other grass species.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the northern corn rootworm, for the EU. is a univoltine species occurring in mid-western and eastern USA and Canada, where it reproduces on maize (), the preferred larval host. A small proportion of individuals can develop to a lesser extent on spelt (), rice (), millet () and a few North American wild grasses.

Pest categorisation of non-EU spp.

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of non-EU spp. is a well-defined insect genus in the family Tortricidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Species can be identified using taxonomic keys based on adult morphology and genitalia.

Risk assessment of the entry of subsp. on maize seed imported by the EU from the USA.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a risk assessment of the entry of subsp. on maize seed imported by the EU from the USA. This pest is a Gram-negative bacterium which causes Stewart's vascular wilt and leaf blight of maize (including sweet corn), a disease responsible for serious crop losses throughout the world.

Commodity risk assessment of spp. plants from New Zealand.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers all plant health risks posed by dormant and free of leaves, 1- to 3-year-old bare root plants for planting of spp. imported from New Zealand, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by New Zealand.

Description of a Novel Mycovirus in the Phytopathogen and a Related EVE in the Yeast .

A new mycovirus was found in the strain A104-1 originally sampled on wheat in Belgium. This novel virus, for which the name Fusarium culmorum virus 1 (FcV1) is suggested, is phylogenetically related to members of the previously proposed family ''Unirnaviridae''. FcV1 has a monopartite dsRNA genome of 2898 bp that harbors two large non-overlapping ORFs.

Commodity risk assessment of plants from Serbia.

The EFSA Panel on Plant health was requested to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in the relevant Implementing Acts as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects' (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 establishing a provisional list of high-risk plants, plant products or other objects, within the meaning of Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031). The current scientific opinion covers all plant health risks posed by dormant bare rooted plants for planting of (1-2 years old) imported from Serbia, considering the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the Plant Protection Directorate from Serbia on 27 December 2019. The relevance of an EU-quarantine pest for this opinion was based on evidence that: (a) the pest is present in Serbia; (b) the pest uses as a host; (c) one or more life stages of the pest can be associated with the specified commodity.

Genome Resource of Barley Bacterial Blight and Leaf Streak Pathogen pv. translucens strain UPB886.

pv. translucens causes bacterial leaf streak and bacterial blight diseases of barley. This pathogen limits barley production globally but remains understudied, with limited genomic resources.

Molecular Typing Reveals High Genetic Diversity of Xanthomonas translucens Strains Infecting Small-Grain Cereals in Iran.

This study provides a phylogeographic insight into the population diversity of strains causing bacterial leaf streak disease of small-grain cereals in Iran. Among the 65 bacterial strains isolated from wheat, barley, and gramineous weeds in eight Iranian provinces, multilocus sequence analysis and typing (MLSA and MLST) of four housekeeping genes (, , , and ), identified 57 strains as pv. undulosa, while eight strains were identified as pv.

Bottom-up regulation of a tritrophic system by Beet yellows virus infection: consequences for aphid-parasitoid foraging behaviour and development.

Effects of plants on herbivores can cascade up the food web and modulate the abundance of higher trophic levels. In agro-ecosystems, plant viruses can affect the interactions between crops, crop pests, and natural enemies. Little is known, however, about the effects of viruses on higher trophic levels, including parasitoids and their ability for pest regulation.

Full genome sequence of a new polymycovirus infecting Fusarium redolens.

By screening a collection of Fusarium spp. for the presence of dsRNA, the Fusarium redolens strain A63-1 was found harboring a pattern of multiple dsRNA bands when analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Using NextSeq Illumina sequencing, the full sequences of eight dsRNA molecules were determined, compared to databases, and gathered into a new viral genome.

Commodity risk assessment of black pine ( Parl.) bonsai from Japan.

The EFSA Panel on Plant health was requested to deliver a scientific opinion on how far the existing requirements for the bonsai pine species subject to derogation in Commission Decision 2002/887/EC would cover all plant health risks from black pine ( Parl.) bonsai (the commodity defined in the EU legislation as naturally or artificially dwarfed plants) imported from Japan, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by Japan. The relevance of an EU-regulated pest for this opinion was based on: (a) evidence of the presence of the pest in Japan; (b) evidence that is a host of the pest and (c) evidence that the pest can be associated with the commodity.

Effectiveness of control measures for .

This opinion updates the information included in the previous EFSA Scientific Opinion concerning the control measures for , with a systematic review and critical analysis of the potential treatment solutions that have been published against this pest so far. The output of this opinion focuses on the application of chemical or biological treatments on living plants. studies, hot water treatments, use of resistant varieties and vector control are excluded from the review.

Update of the Scientific Opinion on the risks to plant health posed by in the EU territory.

EFSA was asked to update the 2015 EFSA risk assessment on for the territory of the EU. In particular, EFSA was asked to focus on potential establishment, short- and long-range spread, the length of the asymptomatic period, the impact of and an update on risk reduction options. EFSA was asked to take into account the different subspecies and Sequence Types of .

Pest categorisation of non-EU spp.

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of non-EU spp. is a well-defined insect genus in the family Tortricidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Species can be identified using taxonomic keys and molecular methods.

Pest categorisation of non-EU Margarodidae.

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of species in the family Margarodidae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha; Coccoidea). Of 107 species of Margarodidae, 97 are not known to occur in the EU. Margarodids are cosmopolitan soil-dwelling species.

Guidance on commodity risk assessment for the evaluation of high risk plants dossiers.

Article 42 of the European Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, on the protective measures against pests of plants, introduces the concept of 'high risk plants, plant products and other objects' that are identified on the basis of a preliminary assessment to be followed by a commodity risk assessment. Following a request of the European Commission, this Guidance was developed to establish the methodology to be followed when performing a commodity risk assessment for high risk commodities (high risk plants, plant products and other objects). The commodity risk assessment performed by EFSA will be based on the information provided by the National Plant Protection Organisations of non-EU countries requesting a lifting of import prohibition of a high risk commodity.

Tomato Twisted Leaf Virus: A Novel Indigenous New World Monopartite Begomovirus Infecting Tomato in Venezuela.

Begomoviruses are one of the major groups of plant viruses with an important economic impact on crop production in tropical and subtropical regions. The global spread of its polyphagous vector, the whitefly , has contributed to the emergence and diversification of species within this genus. In this study, we found a putative novel begomovirus infecting tomato plants in Venezuela without a cognate DNA-B component.

Pest categorisation of .

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of , a well-defined and distinguishable bacterial plant pathogen of the family Microbacteriaceae. causes bacterial ring rot of potato and is reported from North America, Asia and Europe. The bacterium is mostly tuber transmitted, but it can also enter host plants through wounds or via contaminated equipment.

Photons Without Bolus Versus Electrons With Bolus After Upfront Mastectomy Without Immediate Reconstruction in Breast Cancer Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate locoregional control and outcome after mastectomy in patients treated with postmastectomy highly conformal electron radiation therapy (PMERT) with bolus compared with patients treated by highly conformal photon radiation therapy (PMPhRT) without bolus in the adjuvant setting of nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Methods And Materials: We studied women undergoing PMRT without immediate reconstruction for breast cancer before 2012 in 2 sites of our hospital using 2 different techniques. All patients received 50 Gy in 25 fractions.

Guidance on harmonised methodologies for human health, animal health and ecological risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals.

This Guidance document describes harmonised risk assessment methodologies for combined exposure to multiple chemicals for all relevant areas within EFSA's remit, i.e. human health, animal health and ecological areas.

Overview of the Antimicrobial Compounds Produced by Members of the Group.

Over the last seven decades, applications using members of the group have emerged in both food processes and crop protection industries. Their ability to form survival endospores and the plethora of antimicrobial compounds they produce has generated an increased industrial interest as food preservatives, therapeutic agents and biopesticides. In the growing context of food biopreservation and biological crop protection, this review suggests a comprehensive way to visualize the antimicrobial spectrum described within the group, including volatile compounds.

Pest categorisation of .

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of , the causal agent of Phymatotrichum root rot of more than 2,000 dicotyledonous plant species, for the EU. The pest is listed as in Annex IAI of Directive 2000/29/EC. is a well-defined fungal species and reliable methods exist for its detection and identification.