Emerging plant health risks : a study of the risk of entry, establishment and spread of Xylella Fastidiosa spp. (Wells et al., 1987) in the Maltese territory

Abstract

Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al., 1987) is considered as an important emerging plant health disease effecting European countries for the past years. Following the situation in the neighbouring countries and the yearly increase in trade of plant material, arises the need of appropriate measures to decrease the risk of introduction of the disease in the Maltese territory. The risk for introduction of Xylella fastidiosa in the Maltese territory was confirmed from three major pathways: plants for planting entering the PRA area from trade and imports, vectors, and the entry of passengers as carriers into the Maltese territory. Following the evaluation of the factors outlined, the probability of establishment of Xylella fastidiosa in the Maltese territory has been concluded as likely to happen with low levels of uncertainty. The pest risk analysis also confirms that spread by natural and human means throughout all the Maltese territory is likely to happen. Following the pest risk assessment, the level of risk in the pest risk analysis has been confirmed as moderate to likely. Several phytosanitary measures have been outlined after review of the existing measures including the effectiveness, technical feasibility and uncertainty of the measures proposed. The pest risk analysis will serve as a guideline in the implementation of the appropriate phytosanitary measures and the revision of the present phytosanitary measures. This study also offers possibilities for future studies on some of the phytosanitary measures proposed and updates which may arise due to more information on the disease and spread throughout the European Commission