Analisi fitobatteriologiche, necessarie per i servizi fitosanitari regionali

The Legislative Decree n.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 measures foreseen in the Decree are strengthened plant health checks, carried out by the regional Plant Health Services (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. Currently, the analyses are carried out in laboratories belonging to SFR or, under the supervision of each SFR, in private or public laboratories. The Decree 214/2005 lays down a national laboratory network (art.53) to support SFR in performing their analyses. The network operates under the supervision of a central Phytosanitary Committee (art.52). In 2006, a special inquiry showed that SFR are characterised by different needs as they perform different bacteriological analyses for the crops grown in their areas and for the checks of other materials imported through the relevant points of entry. Nevertheless three quarantine bacteria resulted to be of common interest. The national laboratory network, laid down by the 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.