EPPO database on Diagnostic Expertise

At the EPPO Conference on Diagnostics held in April 2004 in Noordwijkerhout (NL), it was stressed that the decrease of knowledge in plant protection which was currently observed could seriously jeopardize the implementation of European phytosanitary regulations with respect to regulated pests. In particular, the necessity for well maintained collections was underlined. The EPPO Council in September 2004 agreed on the text of an emergency declaration on:
 ‘Plant Health Endangered’. The Panel on Diagnostics then considered that it was necessary to identify practical actions which could be undertaken by EPPO to improve collaboration on diagnostics in Europe and to provide good scientific support for the diagnostic work of NPPOs. It was suggested that the EPPO Secretariat should send a questionnaire to its member countries, to make an inventory of the available expertise on diagnostics in Europe, of training capacities in diagnostics and of collections (including their maintenance). It was agreed that emphasis should be given to regulated pests and not to 'common pests' which are widely distributed in Europe.

In May and June 2006, a questionnaire was launched on the restricted part of the EPPO website. All National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) of EPPO member countries were invited to participate in this survey. As of February 2007, 27 countries had provided data about their diagnostic expertise (covering 120 diagnostic laboratories and 365 experts). These results are now available in the form of a searchable database available only to EPPO member countries (in a preliminary phase) on the restricted part of the EPPO website.

All NPPOs of EPPO member countries are encouraged to use the database and to provide further information about their diagnostic capacity.

A circular with all necessary details to enter the database has been sent to all NPPOs of EPPO member countries (07-13326, 16th February 2007).

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