EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 01 - 2023 Num. article: 2023/022

Report on the current situation of invertebrate biological control agents in the European Union


Within the European Union, the Council Decision (EU) 2021/1102 requested the European Commission to carry out a study in 2022 to analyze the current situation regarding invertebrate biological control agents and to identify options for improving it. To produce the study, the European Commission was supported by an external contractor. Representatives of the Competent Authorities of all EU Member States and of two non-EU countries, as well as of the relevant stakeholders (representing the biocontrol industry, growers and foresters, Non-Governmental Organisations, scientific organisations and academia, and international organisations) were invited to provide information by means of surveys and targeted interviews. The report of the study can be found via the following link: https://food.ec.europa.eu/plants/plant-health-and-biosecurity/invertebrate-biological-control-agents-ibcas-against-plant-pests_en#study-requested-by-the-2021-decision.


Sources

Council Decision (EU) 2021/1102 of 28 June 2021 requesting the Commission to submit a study on the Union’s situation and options regarding the introduction, evaluation, production, marketing and use of invertebrate biological control agents within the territory of the Union and a proposal, if appropriate in view of the outcomes of the study http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/1102/oj 

European Commission (2022) Study on the Union’s situation and options regarding the introduction, production, evaluation, marketing and use of invertebrate biological agents within the territory of the Union. SWD (2022) 446 final. Available at: https://food.ec.europa.eu/plants/plant-health-and-biosecurity/invertebrate-biological-control-agents-ibcas-against-plant-pests_en#study-requested-by-the-2021-decision