NEEDS FOR PHYTOBACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSES TO SUPPORT THE REGIONAL PHYTOSANITARY SERVICES IN ITALY.

The Legislative Decree no. 214 dated 19-9-2005 introduced in Italy the Council Directive 2000/29/CE, as amended by the Council Directive 2002/89/CE. The aforesaid Decree enforced protective measures against the introduction and spread into the Community of organisms harmful to plants/plants products. In the annexes of the Decree, there are 20 phytopathogenic bacteria. The key measure foreseen in the Decree is the strengthening of plant health checks, carried out by the Regional Phytosanitary Services (Servizi Fitosanitari Regionali, SFR) at the place of production and on imported/exported plants/plant products. In this respect, laboratory analyses are essential for the detection of latent infections. Analyses are currently carried out in laboratories belonging to SFR or, under the supervision of each SFR, in accredited private or public laboratories. The Decree 214/2005 lays down a national laboratory network (art.53) to support SFR in performing the analyses. This network operates under the supervision of a central Phytosanitary Committee (art.52). In 2006, a specific enquiry showed that SFR are characterised by different needs as they carry out different bacteriological analyses for the crops grown in their areas and for controls of materials imported through the relevant points of entry. However, all SFR had as a common task the detection of three quarantine bacteria, Ralstonia solanacearum, Clavibacter michiganensis and Erwinia amylovora. The national laboratory network, envisaged by Decree 214/2005, should take into account the demand for analyses expressed by the SFR, that have already provided useful data regarding their bacteriological needs. This national laboratory network could provide the SFR with an effective support also in the control of regulated non quarantine pests.