Legacy and Emerging Contaminants in Demersal Fish Species from Southern Norway and Implications for Food Safety.

The present study aimed at measuring the levels of legacy and emerging contaminants in fillet samples from four demersal fish caught in two fishing sites from Southern Norway, in order to assess possible implications for food safety. Levels of organochlorine compounds (OCs), organophosphate pesticides (OPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDE), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in fillet from Atlantic cod (), European plaice (), lemon sole (), and European flounder () specimens. A negligible contamination by all the investigated chemicals was noted in both the fishing sites, as very low levels of OCs, PCBs, and PFASs were noted in a limited number of individuals for each species.

Incidence of persistent contaminants through blue mussels biomonitoring from Flekkefjord fjord and their relevance to food safety.

Dredging activities can lead to the re-suspension of contaminated sediments, resulting in a potential hazard for the whole ecosystem and also for human health. Six-month active biomonitoring was performed in order to monitor the trends of different classes of both legacy (organochlorine - OCPs - and organophosphate (OPs) compounds and polychlorinated biphenyls - PCBs) and emerging (polybromodiphenyl ethers - PBDE - and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - PFASs) organohalogen compounds, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in blue mussel ( spp.) specimens transplanted at different depths in the Flekkefjord fjord.

Autumn growth of three perennial weeds at high latitude benefits from climate change.

In autumn, agricultural perennial weeds prepare for winter and can store reserves into creeping roots or rhizomes. Little is known about influence of climate change in this period. We tested the effect of simulated climate change in autumn on three widespread and noxious perennial weeds, Elymus repens (L.

Pest risk assessment of for the European Union.

EFSA was asked for a partial risk assessment of for the territory of the EU focussing on the main pathways for entry, factors affecting establishment, risk reduction options and pest management. As a polyphagous pest, five commodity pathways were examined in detail. Aggregating across these and other pathways, we estimate that tens of thousands to over a million individual larvae could enter the EU annually on host commodities.

Guidance on quantitative pest risk assessment.

This Guidance describes a two-phase approach for a fit-for-purpose method for the assessment of plant pest risk in the territory of the EU. Phase one consists of pest categorisation to determine whether the pest has the characteristics of a quarantine pest or those of a regulated non-quarantine pest for the area of the EU. Phase two consists of pest risk assessment, which may be requested by the risk managers following the pest categorisation results.

Pest categorisation of .

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), an armoured scale which preferentially feeds on smooth barked woody trees and shrubs. The pest occurs in Asia, North America and non-EU Europe (Caucasus region and Ukraine). The pest is regulated in Council Directive 2000/29/EC as , a junior synonym.

Updated pest categorisation of .

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health Panel updated its pest categorisation of , previously delivered as part of the pest risk assessment published in 2015. is a Gram-negative bacterium, responsible for various plant diseases, including Pierce's disease, phony peach disease, citrus variegated chlorosis, olive quick decline syndrome, almond leaf scorch and various other leaf scorch diseases. The pathogen is endemic in the Americas and is present in Iran.

Pest categorisation of .

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the fungus , the causal agent of potato wart disease, for the European Union (EU). The identity of the pest is well established and reliable methods exist for its detection and identification. is present in most continents.

Pest categorisation of .

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of , a well-defined and distinguishable fungal species of the family Melampsoraceae. The pathogen is regulated in Annex IAI of Council Directive 2000/29/EC as a harmful organism whose introduction into the EU is banned. is a heteroecious rust fungus with spp.

Pest categorisation of subsp. .

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of subsp. (hereafter . subsp).

Pest categorisation of sensu lato.

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of sensu lato (Nematoda: Longidoridae) for the EU. Sixty-one species in this group are recognised. They are polyphagous pests found in soil associated with a number of plant species.

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 fungal species of the family Coleosporiaceae. The pathogen is regulated in Council Directive 2000/29/EC (Annex IAI) as a harmful organism whose introduction into the EU is banned. is native to North America and is the causal agent of spruce broom rust.

Pest categorisation of .

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Zeller, (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), for the EU. is a well-defined and distinguishable species. It is widely distributed in the USA and has a restricted distribution in Canada and Mexico.

Pest categorisation of .

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the Siberian moth, Tschetverikov (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae). is a well-defined and distinguishable species, native to Asian Russia and northern regions of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and North Korea, and recognised as a severe pest of Pinaceae conifers, mainly larch ( spp.), fir ( spp.

Pest categorisation of non-EU spp.

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the non-EU spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). They constitute a well-defined taxon, with non-EU species distributed in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, China, Japan, Korea, Russia and South Africa, some of which are recognised as severe pests of conifers, mainly spp.

Pest categorisation of and .

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of and , two well-defined and distinguishable fungal species of the family Hymenochaetaceae. The pathogens are regulated in Council Directive 2000/29/EC (Annex IAI, under the previous name for both species) as a harmful organism whose introduction into the EU is banned. The two pathogens are native to North America, where causes laminated root rot primarily in Douglas fir () and grand fir (), while causes cedar laminated root and butt rot mainly in cedars ( and ).

Pest categorisation of spp.

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of nematodes belonging to the genus (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae). Twenty-nine species in this genus have been considered of which five species are present in the EU (, , , and ). The whole genus except is regulated by Council Directive 2000/29/EC (Annex IAI).

Pest categorisation of .

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of , the fungal agent of anthracnose and ramulosis diseases of cotton, for the EU. The identity of the pest is well established and reliable methods exist for its detection/identification. The pest is present in most of the cotton-growing areas worldwide, including Bulgaria and Romania in the EU.

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 fungal species of the family Phyllostictaceae. The pathogen is regulated in Council Directive 2000/29/EC (Annex IAI) as a harmful organism whose introduction into the EU is banned. is native to East Asia and causes a shoot blight disease of spp.

Pest categorisation of pv. .

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the seed-borne bacterium pv. . The pest is regulated in Council Directive 2000/29/EC (Annex IIB) as a harmful organism whose introduction into, and spread within, the protected zones (PZ) of Greece, Portugal and Spain shall be banned if present on seeds of and of .

Pest categorisation of .

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the fungus , the causal agent of black knot, for the EU. The identity of the pest is well established and reliable methods exist for its detection/identification. The pest is listed in Annex IIAI of Directive 2000/29/EC and is not known to occur in the EU.

Pest categorisation of .

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the weevil Say, (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), for the EU. is a well-defined and distinguishable species, recognised as an occasional pest of apples, pears and sour cherries in North America where it also feeds on a range of wild rosaceous plants such as and . Adults feed on leaves, flowers and fruit.

Pest categorisation of .

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae), the false root-knot nematode, for the EU. The nematode was originally described from the American continent. Due to differences in host range as well as molecular variability among populations, should be regarded as a species complex ().

Pest categorisation of 'Blight and blight-like' diseases of citrus.

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of 'Blight and blight-like' for the EU territory. Blight is a major disease of citrus. Similar 'blight-like' diseases are also known (e.