Pest risk assessment made by France on Mycosphaerella fijiensis considered by France as harmful in French overseas departments of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Plant Health

SUMMARY Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Plant Health was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on 30 pest risk assessments made by France on organisms which are considered by France as harmful in four French overseas departments, i.e. French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion. In particular, the Panel was asked whether these organisms can be considered as harmful organisms for the endangered area of the above departments, in the meaning of the definition mentioned in Article 2.1.(e) of Directive 2000/29/EC and thus potentially eligible for addition to the list of harmful organisms in Directive 2000/29/EC. This document presents the opinion of the Panel on Plant Health on the full 2 pest risk assessment conducted by France on Mycosphaerella fijiensis with French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion considered as endangered area. Three related fungal species within the genus Mycosphaerella induce important leaf spot diseases on Musa spp.: M. fijiensis, M. musicola and M. eumusae. They cause black leaf streak disease, Sigatoka leaf spot disease and eumusae leaf spot disease, respectively. M. fijiensis and M. musicola are known to cause serious economic damage on banana. M. fijiensis is present in most Musa growing regions of the world, but it is absent from the PRA area.