Phytosanitary Rules for the Movement of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Propagation Material into the European Union (EU)

Phytosanitary legislation involves government laws that are essential to minimize the risk of the introduction and diffusion of pests, especially invasive non-native species, as a consequence of the international exchange of plant material, thus allowing us to safeguard agricultural production and biodiversity of a territory. These measures ensure compliance with adequate requirements relating to the absence of pests, especially of harmful quarantine organisms through inspections and diagnosis tests of the consignments to ascertain the presence of the pests concerned. They also regulate the eradication and containment measures that are implemented in the eventuality of an unintentional introduction of these organisms. In the present contribution, the current plant protection legislation for the exchange of plants or propagation material within the European Union or for export to foreign countries, represented by Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, has been reviewed, with a particular focus on the olive tree (Olea europaea L.). Furthermore, a brief summary of the main olive tree pests transmissible with the propagation material is also reported, indicating their current categorization with respect to the relative quarantine status.

Automated summary

Phytosanitary legislation is crucial for minimizing the risk of pests, especially invasive species, being introduced through international plant exchange, in order to protect agriculture and biodiversity. These laws ensure that plant materials meet the necessary pest-free requirements through inspections and tests. They also regulate measures for eradicating and containing unintentionally introduced organisms. This article reviews the current plant protection legislation within the European Union, focusing on the olive tree, as well as summarizing the main pests transmissible through propagation material and their quarantine status.