Work of the EPPO/IOBC Panel on biological control agents

Abstract

EPPO started work on biological control agents (BCAs) in 1996, and the joint EPPO/IOBC Panel was established in 1997. The history of the Panel is provided and EPPO Standards developed by the Panel are described. These Standards are: PM 6/1 ‘First import of exotic biological control agents for research under contained conditions’, PM 6/2 ‘Import and release of non‐indigenous biological control agents’ and PM 6/3 ‘List of biological control agents widely used in the EPPO region’. The last of these has been annually updated as a ‘Positive List’ of BCAs for which EPPO recommends its member countries to use a simplified procedure for import and releases. EPPO activities in biological control have been focused on the safety aspects of the introduction of invertebrate BCAs. However, the scope of EPPO's work in this area is now under review, and a number of issues are being considered by the Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations. These include the remit of the Panel and Standards in relation to micro‐organisms, the evaluation of potential environmental benefits as well as potential risks from releases and the potential for use of BCAs against regulated pests and those recommended for regulation.

Conclusions from the workshop on evaluation and regulation of biological control agents

“…Two of the examples related to newly arrived pests which EPPO has recommended for regulation: Tuta absoluta and Dryocosmus kuriphilus . This shows the linkage between EPPO's advice on new pest risks and EPPO's work on BCAs, which is explored further by Orlinski (, this issue pages 243–248). One of the themes throughout the Workshop was the need to include biological control options in contingency planning against introductions of new pests, particularly where there is useful experience to draw on from elsewhere in the world.…”

“…The EPPO Secretariat is drafting a questionnaire to NPPOs on how they regulate BCAs and what improvements could be considered. A decision support scheme for releases is also being developed and is explained further by Orlinski (, this issue pages 243–248).…”

Screening of biological resources of insects and mites for biological control of pests in greenhouses

“…В 1996 г. была создана экспертная группа ЕОКЗР и Международной организацией по биологической борьбе (МОББ) по регуляции использования агентов биоконтроля. Группой разработаны стандарты, которым рекомендовано следовать при импорте и выпусках энтомофагов, составлен и ежегодно обновляется «Положительный перечень» видов (PM 6 Standards on Safe Use of Biological Control), для которых импорт и выпуск в природу упрощен в виду их экологической безопасности (Orlinski, 2016;Ward, 2016). Группой экспертов ЕОКЗР и МОББ разработаны стандарты безопасного применения завозных видов энтомофагов, интродукции и выпуска в природу новых для региона видов.…”

Issues and gaps in international guidance and national regulatory systems affecting international live insect trade

“…This regional 'green list' is updated annually to provide national plant protection organisations and other interested parties with guidance on the acceptance of new species. Orlinski [29]…”