Commodity risk assessment of debarked conifer wood chips fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride from the US.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to deliver a risk assessment on the likelihood of pest freedom from regulated EU quarantine pests, with emphasis on and its vectors spp. of debarked conifer wood chips fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride as proposed by the United States (US) and as outlined in ISPM 28 - PT23 of sulfuryl fluoride (SF) fumigation treatment for nematodes and insects in debarked wood. The assessment considered the different phases in the wood chips' production, with special emphasis on the SF treatment.

Commodity risk assessment of Alnus cordata, Alnus glutinosa and Alnus incana plants from the UK.

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'. Taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the applicant country, this Scientific Opinion covers the plant health risks posed by the following commodities: , and graftwood, bare-root plants and rooted plants in pots up to 7 years old imported into the EU from the UK. A list of pests potentially associated with the commodities was compiled.

Pest categorisation of .

Following the commodity risk assessment of plants grafted on from China, in which (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) was identified as a pest of possible concern, the European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to conduct a pest categorisation of for the territory of the European Union (EU). The origin of the scale insect is uncertain, with either South America or eastern Asia suggested as the native range. The geographic distribution of the species includes many countries of the continents of Africa, North and South America, Asia and Oceania.

Pest categorisation of .

Following the commodity risk assessment of and plants for planting from Türkiye, in which (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), the pistachio oyster scale or yellow pistachio scale, was identified as a pest of possible concern, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation for the territory of the European Union (EU). is reported as a polyphagous pest which, however, mainly affects plants of the genus Originating from Asia, it is widely distributed in pistachio producing countries of Central, South and West Asia. Within the EU, the pest has been reported from Cyprus and Greece.

Commodity risk assessment of × hybrid plants from Ukraine.

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 plant health risks posed by plants of hybrids of x imported from Ukraine, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by Ukraine. All pests that may be associated with the hybrids of x were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion.

Light emitting diodes for the improvement of postharvest quality of wild rocket in soilless and soil-bound cultivation systems.

Wild rocket ( (L.) DC cv. Dallas) is a leafy green vegetable appreciated for its pungent taste and healthy properties, often consumed as a ready-to-eat product.

First report of citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) on citrus in Italy.

In March 2024, symptoms of vein clearing (Fig. S1) were observed on leaves of six lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm.

Standard protocols for plant health scientific assessments.

In accordance with the EFSA Strategy 2027 outlining the need for fit-for-purpose protocols for EFSA generic scientific assessments, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health (PLH Panel) developed standard protocols to harmonise the problem formulation process and outputs for mandates addressing recurrent scientific questions. Three types of recurring EFSA plant health mandates require generic scientific assessments: (i) pest categorisation; (ii) commodity risk assessment for the purpose of derogation to provisions of the EU plant health law and (iii) quantitative pest risk assessment. The three standard protocols are tailored to the appropriate level of detail and build on the existing guidance documents laying out the methods for conducting risk assessment in the plant health domain.

Commodity risk assessment of maple veneer sheets from Canada.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to deliver a risk assessment on the likelihood of pest freedom from Union quarantine pests and pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30 of Regulation (EU) No 2016/2031 for the maple veneer sheets manufactured according to the process set out by Canada, with emphasis on the freedom from and (non-EU isolates). The assessment was conducted for veneer sheets of up to 0.7 mm and up to 6 mm thickness, taking into account the different phases in the veneer production in a systems approach.

Capacitive Neuromodulation via Material-Based Passive Interaction: Efficacy in Motor Function Improvement in Parkinson Disease.

A non-invasive and non-pharmacological approach is evaluated for the proprioceptive and postural improvement of PD subjects. The authors evaluated the effectiveness of a class I medical device according to EU regulation 745/2017 designed to develop the mechanism of action based on the modulation of action potentials, which occurs in prevalent pathways of the afferent peripheral nervous system efferent in subjects with spasticity. The present observational study, structured in a double-blind randomized manner, therefore, had the main aim of evaluating the ability of the device to improve on the motor and proprioceptive function of PD patients.

Commodity risk assessment of plants from United Kingdom.

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 plant health risks posed by potted plants and bundles of bare-root plants or cell grown young plants or graftwood/budwood of imported from the United Kingdom, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae), the Massonian pine bast scale, for the EU territory. This pest categorisation was initiated following the commodity risk assessment of artificially dwarfed plants from China consisting of (Japanese white pine) grafted on (Japanese black pine) performed by EFSA, in which was identified as a pest of possible concern. However, its identity is not firmly established due to uncertainty regarding its taxonomic relationship with (Green), a species widespread in Europe.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae), following the commodity risk assessment of plants grafted on from China, in which was identified as a pest of possible concern to the European Union. This species can be identified by morphological taxonomic keys and by barcoding. The adults of the overwintering generation emerge from late June to late August.

Pest categorisation of .

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to conduct a pest categorisation of (Ellis & Everh) Sutton, following commodity risk assessments of , , and plants from the UK, in which was identified as a pest of possible concern to the EU. When first described, was a clearly defined fungus of the family Schizoparmaceae, but due to lack of a curated type-derived DNA sequence, current identification based only on DNA sequence is uncertain and taxa previously reported to be this fungus based on molecular identification must be confirmed. The uncertainty on the reported identification of this species translates into uncertainty on all the sections of this categorisation.

Risk assessment of for the EU.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a quantitative risk assessment for the EU of (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a polyphagous pest occurring in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The current risk assessment focused on potential pathways for entry, the climatic conditions allowing establishment, the expected spread capacity and the impact considering a time horizon of 10 years (2023-2032). The Panel identified the import of apples, cut flowers and table grapes as the most relevant entry pathways.

Commodity risk assessment of plants from United Kingdom.

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 plant health risks posed by plants of possibly grafted on rootstocks of either or their hybrids imported from the UK, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), following a commodity risk assessment of bonsai grafted onto from China, in which was identified as a pest of possible concern for the territory of the European Union. This is a univoltine polyphagous pest that occurs in eastern Asia from Vietnam northwards through eastern China and Taiwan, South Korea and into Far East Russia. Hosts include species of fruit trees within the genera and , trees of forestry and environmental importance such as and , shrubs such as , soft fruit such as , grasses, including amenity turf and field crops such as potatoes, maize and soybean.

Commodity risk assessment of plants from the UK.

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'. Taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the applicant country, this Scientific Opinion covers the plant health risks posed by the following commodities: bare-root plants and rooted plants in pots up to 7 years old and specimen trees in pots up to 15 years old imported into the EU from the UK. A list of pests potentially associated with the commodities was compiled.

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), the cucumber moth for the territory of the European Union (EU), following the commodity risk assessment of from Uganda, in which was identified as a pest of possible concern to the European Union. is native to South Asian countries and is now distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania. In the EU, occurs in Madeira (Portugal).

Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Voss, 1937) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), following the commodity risk assessment of bonsai plants from China consisting of grafted on , in which was identified as a pest of possible concern to the European Union (EU). This categorisation refers to , which is the pest's current valid scientific name. It is native to China and has never been recorded in the EU.