Editorial December 2024

Abstract

This issue of the EPPO Bulletin, includes examples of our collective achievements in developing and refining the resources that underpin plant protection. The Standards and research featured in this edition reflect EPPO member countries' shared commitment to advancing plant health. By developing robust Standards, revising existing tools, and fostering international collaboration, we collectively enhance our ability to protect plants and ecosystems in a changing environment. This is described also in the Annual Report 2023 that is published in this issue.

This issue highlights advancements in key areas of plant protection, for example new inspection protocols for inspection of growing media, inspection for invasive alien plants and inspection of passengers' luggage. These Standards enhance phytosanitary measures at points of entry, address emerging risks, and reinforce the tools available to member countries. A revised Standard on safe use of biological control provides guidance on import and release of non-indigenous biological control agents.

In diagnostics, the revision of existing EPPO Diagnostic Standards demonstrates our commitment to maintaining high-quality, up-to-date tools for detecting and identifying regulated pests. These revisions ensure consistency with the latest scientific knowledge and technical advancements. Additionally, the inclusion of updated guidance on laboratory authorization ensures the continued reliability of diagnostic activities across the EPPO region.

A large number of Standards were approved by EPPO Council meeting in Baku in September this year, To keep the content in each issue reasonably balanced, the PP1 Standards will be printed only in the April 2025 issue. They have already been made available online via early view.

A significant milestone recognized in this issue is the successful completion of the EPPO datasheet project. This initiative has produced a comprehensive library of 319 new and revised datasheets with practical information on pests of concern. EPPO's work on datasheets will continue, although at a reduced level, and the datasheet for the invasive alien plant Zizania latifolia, included in this issue, is one produced outside of the scope of this project.

This edition also includes original research articles that provide valuable insights into pest and disease management. Topics range from the first detection of a leafhopper in a region in Germany, to the role of natural enemies in biological control of cereal aphids, to diagnostic innovations emphasizing the importance of sample pretreatment for the diagnosis of Synchytrium endobioticum. These findings bridge research and practice, helping to inform and improve phytosanitary measures. The valuable database EPPO-Q-bank is also presented in this issue.

My term as Director-General at EPPO finishes at the end of the year. I have just started the process of handing over to my successor, Ms. Olga Lavrentjeva, who was elected at the Council meeting in September 2024 and will start work in January 2025. It has been a huge privilege to serve as Director-General of EPPO and I would like to take the opportunity of thanking the contributors to and readers of the EPPO Bulletin and wishing all the best to my successor, who will become the new Editor-in-Chief, and the Managing Editor as they take forward the work on the Bulletin. Together, we continue to build a resilient future for plant health through innovation, knowledge, and cooperation.