Partner 13

The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for international cooperation in plant protection for countries in the European Mediterranean and Central Asian region. In the sense of the article IX of the FAO International Plant Protection Convention, it is the regional plant protection organisation for Europe. Founded in 1951 with 15 member governments, it now has 50 member governments including nearly every country of Western and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. EPPO promotes the exchange and synthesis of information and facilitates collaboration in support of the role of National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPOs). EPPO’s technical activities in plant quarantine are directed by the Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations. As a result of the work being done within the different technical bodies of the Organisation, EPPO makes recommendations to the National Plant Protection Organisations of its Member Governments. These recommendations are considered as Regional Standards in the sense of the IPPC. As the Regional Plant Protection Organisation for European, Mediterranean and Central Asian countries, EPPO has great experience in establishing standards relevant for plant pest diagnostics as well as disseminating information on plant health. More than 100 EPPO Diagnostic Protocols have been developed and are intended to be used by NPPOs, in their capacity as bodies responsible for the application of phytosanitary measures to detect and identify the regulated pests of the EPPO and/or European Union lists. Collections are very important for diagnostics and horizontal quality standards for collections can be developed in the EPPO framework. EPPO also has experience in organizing online surveys.

EPPO will take part in WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5, WP6, and is leader on WP7 (dissemination).