ICPM Working Group on 'risk analysis for
environmental hazards of plant pests
Vienna, Austria, 2001-08-06/10
The recently approved ISPM (no. 11) on PRA for quarantine pests includes an evaluation of risks for the environment (which are considered to be part of the potential economic impact of a pest). The aim of the working group was to make this evaluation of environmental risk much more specific, and to extend the scope of the ISPM to plant pests having indirect effects on plants (particularly by competition), and to extend the plants protected to all plants (including those in uncultivated or unmanaged habitats). Effectively, this leads to the consideration of 'invasive' plants which may included introduced cultivated plants. The Working Group achieved its aim by drafting a detailed supplement to ISPM no. 11.
Participants also had the opportunity to visit the city of Vienna, to admire the baroque monastery of Melk and to cruise on the Danube along the vine-growing region known as the Wachau (following in the path of the Nibelungs). EPPO co-hosted the meeting with the Austrian NPPO, and Mr Michael Kurzweil and his colleagues are kindly thanked for their welcome.
Participants at the Monastery of Melk