PM 3/97 (1) Inspection of consignments of plants for planting for invasive alien plants

Abstract

Specific scope: This Standard describes inspection procedures for consignments of plants for planting imported with soil or other growing medium (and aquatic plants with water) to avoid the import of regulated invasive plants. The Standard does not cover inspection of seeds and plants for planting such as tubers, rhizomes imported as the commodity itself, without soil or growing medium, nor does it cover inspection of pests other than plants.1 The Standard describes (1) the inspection to check whether the plants for planting are regulated or prohibited as invasive alien plants, and (2) the inspection and sampling of soil or other growing medium associated with plants for planting to ensure it is free from invasive alien plant as contaminants. The Standard provides guidance that may be relevant to inspections for exports.

Specific Approval: This Standard was first approved in 2024-09.

Invasive alien plant (IAPs) species are considered a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services (Early et al., 2016; Huisman et al., 2021). These species can have negative impacts on agricultural systems, reducing crop yields and degrading pastures (Eschen et al., 2021). One of the main pathways for the entry of IAPs into the EPPO region is via the horticulture trade (Hulme et al., 2018). Although most ornamental species do not cause any adverse impacts, some may become invasive and cause ecological and economic impacts to the areas where introduced (van Kleunen et al., 2015).

Invasive alien plants may be imported as a commodity themselves. The species indicated on the import documents (e.g. a phytosanitary certificate) may be the correct species name, a synonym, or a misapplied scientific or common name. Incorrect labelling and misidentification of plants for planting in trade is widespread and may be deliberate or by neglect (Brunel, 2009; Hulme et al., 2018; Neucker & Scheers, 2022; Thum et al., 2012; Verbrugge et al., 2014). Mislabelling may consist of simple misspelling of names or considering a variety as a true species, or just preferring one name over another (Van Valkenburg et al., 2022, 2023). Using synonyms, rather than the preferred scientific name can also lead to confusion. Detecting mislabelled IAPs requires some taxonomic knowledge of the species in question by the inspector.

Invasive alien plants may be imported accidently as contaminants of soil or other growing medium associated with plants for planting, including water for aquatic plants. ISPM 5 Glossary of phytosanitary terms (IPPC, 2024) defines growing medium as ‘Any material in which plant roots are growing or intended for that purpose’. Soil and water are included in this definition of growing media and consequently this Standard will refer to growing media.

The EPPO pest risk analysis for Lygodium japonicum details a high risk of entry for this species along the pathway contaminant of growing media (EPPO, 2018). Both Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae: EPPO A2 List) and Persicaria perfoliata (Polygonaceae: EPPO A2 List) have been intercepted by the Dutch NPPO as contaminants of potted plants (EPPO, 2016). Additionally, inspection of consignments of bonsai plants (Podocarpus macrophyllus and Pseudolarix amabilis) have intercepted P. perfoliata, Alternanthera philoxeroides (Amaranthaceae: EPPO A2 List), as well as Humulus scandens (Cannabaceae: EPPO A2 List).

At import, consignment freedom of pests is usually verified by inspection and, where appropriate, by testing for particular pests before the consignment is released. Similar procedures may be applied in the exporting country before dispatching the consignment, if the importing country requires consignment freedom or verification of the efficacy of other phytosanitary measures (e.g. treatment).

When consignments of plants for planting imported with growing media are inspected at points of entry, inspection for contamination with invasive alien plants is not normally the priority.

The information in this Standard may be used as part of a routine inspection and can be used in conjunction with the EPPO Standard PM 3 Inspection of growing media associated with consignments of plants for planting (EPPO, 2024).

In ISPM 5 Glossary of phytosanitary terms (IPPC, 2024), inspection is defined as ‘Official visual examination of plants, plant products or other regulated articles to determine if pests are present or to verify conformity with phytosanitary requirements’.

The procedures described in this Standard mainly concern the inspection of consignments at a point of entry in an EPPO importing country, but they may also be applicable for export inspection to check compliance with the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country.

The phytosanitary certificate, that is accompanying a consignment should be examined before initiating the visual examination. It can provide useful information such as the country of origin, place of production, and compliance with phytosanitary measures (e.g. level of processing, treatment of the growing media).

Inspections at import (including checking documents and identity checks) aim to verify compliance with phytosanitary import requirements such as the absence of pests and compliance with specific phytosanitary measures (for example freedom from contaminants, treatment, or origin in a pest free area).

Inspections may also be carried out for the detection of pests for which the phytosanitary risk has not yet been determined. When an unfamiliar pest is detected, the procedures specified in EPPO (2002) Standard PM 5/2: Pest risk analysis on detection of a pest in an imported consignment, should be followed to allow the NPPO to decide the phytosanitary action to take.

Inspection of consignments of growing media attached to plants in the importing country can be carried out at the approved point of entry or places of destination, depending on the inspection premises, the possibilities of carrying out efficient inspections and keeping the plants under official control until the result of the inspection is known.

It is important to pay attention to consignments that are likely to include IAPs as contaminants (e.g. place of origin of the plants for planting imported with growing medium where IAP of concern occur, and from areas/producers where there are known instances of non-compliance of consignments).

The general background for carrying out import inspections is included in ISPM 20 Guidelines for a phytosanitary import regulatory system (IPPC, 2017b) and ISPM 23 Guidelines for inspection (IPPC, 2016).

General background information on inspection of consignments is given in the EPPO (2009) Standard PM/3 72 (2) Elements common to inspection of places of production, area-wide surveillance, inspection of consignments and lot identification.

Specific information regarding the movement of growing media in association with plants for planting can be found in ISPM 40 International movement of growing media in association with plants for planting (IPPC, 2017a).

Information on the presence and status of an IAP in a country of origin may be found in EPPO Global Database (EPPO, 2023).

Examples of commodities of plants for planting with associated growing media covered by this Standard are: plants for planting (including bulbs, tubers and rhizomes) in pots or where the roots are contained in another substance, i.e. large shrubs or trees with root balls wrapped in a hessian fabric (e.g. burlap) or aquatic plants which may be bunched together wrapped in paper or other material to preserve moisture and boxed

Plants for planting imported with growing media are usually traded in large lots and transported by sea in palletized boxes, ship holds or containers, or by air freight. These plants are either intended for direct sale (in garden centres or other outlets) or the plants will be further grown on in nurseries and sold at a later date

Plants for planting may have been grown outdoors in natural soil (or water) and potted with other growing media before export. These plants may have natural soil attached to their roots and present a high risk for the introduction of IAPs. Alternatively, plants may have been permanently grown in growing media other than natural soil which presents a lower risk depending on production conditions of the plants.

This Standard covers mainly those IAPs which are listed in the EPPO A1 and A2 lists of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests, and which can enter the EPPO region as a plant for planting imported with growing medium or as a contaminant of plants for planting imported with growing medium (see Tables 1 (terrestrial plants) and 2 (aquatic plants)). IAPs that are listed on the EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants and the EPPO Observation List and are regulated by specific EPPO Member countries are also included. EPPO A1 and A2 lists of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests are subject to annual additions and deletions. The species listed in Tables 1 (terrestrial plants) and 2 (aquatic plants) should therefore be revised whenever IAPs are identified and added to the lists.

The phytosanitary procedures described in the Standard are primarily aimed at preventing the introduction of these IAPs into a country via imported consignments of plants for planting imported with growing media.

Inspectors should be aware of regulations and listed regulated species for their countries. For example, for European Union, Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species contains a list of invasive alien plants of Union concern (European Commission, 2016). The same regulation provides European Union Member countries to develop national lists.

For an indication of the status of these IAPs, the EPPO Global Database (EPPO, 2023) may be consulted. For additional up to date information, the respective scientific literature should be consulted.

Some EPPO countries may have other lists of species which can be included in the inspection process. For example, national or regional alert lists (e.g. EPPO Alert List).

Further information on IAPs of quarantine concern for the EPPO region which can enter as contaminants of plants for planting can be found in Appendix 1.

General background information on lot identification is given in the EPPO Standard PM 3/72(1) Elements common to inspection of places of production, area-wide surveillance, inspection of consignments and lot identification (EPPO, 2009).

According to ISPM 5, a lot is ‘a number of units of a single commodity, identifiable by its homogeneity of composition, origin etc., forming part of a consignment’ (IPPC, 2024).

A consignment may be composed of one or more lots of plants for planting with growing media.

In the case of the inspection of a consignment of plants for planting with growing media attached, the lot identification depends on the species, variety or size, and place of production. Additionally, in the case of inspection for invasive alien plants contaminants, the type of growing media can be considered.

Lots identified on the phytosanitary certificate should be the starting point for planning the inspection. When a consignment comprises of more than one lot, the inspection to determine compliance should be done on each lot, and each lot should be sampled separately. Inspection of associated growing media may not be based on individual lots of the commodity but on combined lots which are homogenous firstly in origin and secondly in type of growing media.

Packaging may contain an indication of the country of origin and additional information which may be used to identify individual lots.

If an IAP is suspected, either as a commodity itself or as a contaminant, a sample should be taken and sent to the laboratory to confirm its identity.

Samples for laboratory identification should preferably be composed of the whole plant (including flowers and fruits if present). If the plants are small, several plants should be sent. Growing media can be added to small seedlings and young plants. The plant material should ideally be wrapped in paper in order to prevent proliferation of saprotrophic bacteria and fungi. Then, the material should be placed in a sealed airtight box or plastic bag and sent directly to the laboratory. Keep at cool temperatures to avoid exposing samples to stress conditions (see specific procedure in Appendix 1). All packaging should be clearly labelled.

For some IAPs, identification up to species level can be complicated. Also, plants in an early development stage may not exhibit all morphological characters required for an accurate identification up to species level solely based on a visual inspection at the point of entry. For these plants, molecular analysis may provide additional information to support an identification up to species level (see for example EPPO, 2021).

The EPPO-Q-bank Invasive Plants database (2022) includes curated sequence data on vascular plants (excluding algae and mosses), with special focus on aquatic (non-marine) plants. It also provides information on where to find specimens of plants for which DNA sequences are available in herbarium collections.