Plant diseases and pests

The Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (FPPS) is responsible for any kind of phytosanitary measures in order to prevent the introduction and spread of particularly harmful pests and diseases that affect plants and plant products. The FPPS is run jointly by the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) and the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). The FOAG is responsible for the sector of agricultural and horticultural crops, whereas the FOEN is responsible for forest plants, wood and wood products, including invasive plants. According to the Federal Law on Agriculture (RS 910.1 Loi fédérale du 29 avril 1998 sur l’agriculture) and the corresponding ordinance (RS 916.20 Ordonnance du 31 octobre 2018 sur la protection des végétaux), notifiable plant diseases and pests are reported to either the FOAG or the FOEN that transmit reports to the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). Reporting of invasive plants to the FOEN, which then communicates with the EPPO, is primarily regulated in the Ordinance on the Release of Organisms into the Environment (RS 814.911 Ordonnance du 10 septembre 2008 sur l’utilisation d’organismes dans l’environnement).

Information on outbreaks of infectious diseases and similar occurrences that seem to deviate from the normal pattern in terms of plant diseases and pests that occurred during the reporting period is provided in the form of short descriptions of notifications made by the National Plant Protection Organisation of Switzerland to the EU Commission by means of the EUROPHYT-Outbreak system as follows:

01 - Date of approval: 25.03.2020 - Title: First Presence (confirmed) of Erysiphe corylacearum in Switzerland (Lugano) - Short description: First detection of the non-regulated pest Erysiphe corylacearum in Switzerland (Lugano). - Pest: Erysiphe corylacearum - Infested Plant / Material: Corylus avellana - EPPO Reporting: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/ERYSCY/distribution/CH

02 - Date of approval: 18.05.2020 - Title: Presence (confirmed) of Globodera pallida in Switzerland (Vaud) - Short description: Outbreak of the potato cyst nematode, Globodera pallida in canton of Vaud. - Pest: Globodera pallida - Infested Plant / Material: Solanum tuberosum

03 - Date of approval: 25.06.2020 - Title: Update on the status of Ceratocystis platani in Switzerland - Short description: Update on the situation with Ceratocystis platani in Switzerland. There are several outbreaks of this pest in canton of Ticino (under official eradication). Not detected for at least 10 years in cantons of Geneva and Vaud. - Pest: Ceratocystis platani - Infested Plant / Material: Platanus - EPPO Reporting: https://gd.eppo.int/reporting/article-6855

04 - Date of approval: 27.07.2020 - Title: Update no 3. First Presence (confirmed) of Popillia japonica in Switzerland (Canton of Ticino) - Short description: Update on the situation with Popillia japonica in canton of Ticino. In July 2020, for the first time, adults of P. japonica have been found in high numbers in two different vineyards directly on plants (Vitis vinifera), in the canton of Ticino. - Pest: Popillia japonica - Infested Plant / Material: Vitis vinifera, Salix, Rubus, Parthenocissus quinquefolia - EPPO Reporting: https://gd.eppo.int/reporting/article-6845

05 - Date of approval: 29.07.2020 - Title: Presence (confirmed) of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma in Switzerland (Vaud) - Short description: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma was found during an official survey in a vineyard in canton of Vaud (Roche). - Pest: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma - Infested Plant / Material: Vitis vinifera

06 - Date of approval: 16.10.2020 - Title: Presence (confirmed) of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma in Switzerland (Valais) - Short description: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma was found during an official survey in a vineyard in canton of Valais (Port-Valais). - Pest: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma - Infested Plant / Material: Vitis vinifera

07 - Date of approval: 27.10.2020 - Title: Presence (confirmed) of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma in Switzerland (Valais) - Short description: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma was found during an official survey in a vineyard in canton of Valais (Ardon). - Pest: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma - Infested Plant / Material: Vitis vinifera

08 - Date of approval: 17.12.2020 - Title: Update no 1. Presence (confirmed) of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma in Switzerland (Vaud) - Short description: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma was found during an official survey in a vineyard in canton of Vaud (Yvorne). - Pest: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma - Infested Plant / Material: Vitis vinifera

09 - Date of approval: 20.12.2020 - Title: Presence (confirmed) of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma in Switzerland (Vaud) - Short description: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma was found during an official survey in a vineyard in canton of Vaud (Bourg-en-Lavaux). - Pest: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma - Infested Plant / Material: Vitis vinifera

10 - Date of approval: 20.12.2020 - Title: Presence (confirmed) of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma in Switzerland (Vaud) - Short description: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma was found during an official survey in a vineyard in canton of Vaud (Bourg-en-Lavaux). - Pest: Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma - Infested Plant / Material: Vitis vinifera