Changes to the EU list of pests subject to temporary prohibition
The EU Commission has recently established measures to prevent the introduction, movement, holding, multiplication or release of the following pests into the European Union:
- Copitarsia decolora (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
- Lagria villosa (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae – EPPO Alert List).
These pests are added to the list of pests subject to temporary prohibition until a full risk analysis has been carried out. Preliminary risk assessments conducted by Spain for C. decolora and by the Netherlands for L. villosa concluded that the pests fulfil the criteria for quarantine pests. The temporary measures will apply until 30 June 2031.
In addition, the temporary measures for Chloridea virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae – EPPO A1 List), Homona magnanima (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae – EU Emergency measures) and Spodoptera ornithogalli (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae – EPPO A1 List) have been extended until 31 May 2030. This extension will allow the completion of assessments to determine whether these pests should be listed as Union quarantine pests.
Sources
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1533 of 9 July 2026 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1941 as regards the temporary prohibition of introduction into, movement within, holding, multiplication or release of certain pests in the Union territory. OJ L, 2026/1553, 10.7.2026, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1553/oj/eng
NVWA (2025) Quick scan for Lagria villosa. Available at https://pra.eppo.int/pra/628130c9-68cf-47fb-b804-c7c7184c739e