The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a report on the eleventh webinar in a series of 20 on EU priority pests, focusing on the false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta). The webinar, held under a framework contract for technical and scientific support to EFSA's training courses on plant pest surveillance, provided an overview of the pest's characteristics and included a practical simulation using the RiPEST tool. The recording is available on EFSA's YouTube channel and the EU Academy.
The event report, published on 21 July 2026, details the outcomes of the webinar, which is part of a broader EFSA initiative to improve plant health crisis preparedness across the European Union. The series, promoted by EFSA in collaboration with academic experts, aims to enhance surveillance capabilities for pests that pose significant threats to EU agriculture and ecosystems. The false codling moth is a quarantine pest that damages a wide range of crops, including citrus, stone fruit, and cotton, and is subject to EU phytosanitary measures.
The webinar series supports the implementation of EU plant health legislation, particularly Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. By training national plant health authorities and inspectors, EFSA seeks to strengthen early detection and rapid response to pest outbreaks. The practical simulation using RiPEST, a risk-based pest surveillance tool, allows participants to apply theoretical knowledge to realistic scenarios.
Stakeholders most impacted include EU national plant protection organizations, which are responsible for surveillance and control activities; agricultural producers, especially those growing host crops like citrus and stone fruit, who face potential economic losses from outbreaks; and EU consumers, who may experience higher prices or reduced availability of affected produce if pest management fails. The training also benefits academic and research institutions involved in pest risk assessment.
The webinar series represents a moderate investment in capacity building, with potential positive impacts on early detection and reduced pesticide use through targeted surveillance. However, the resource-intensive nature of training and surveillance may strain national budgets, particularly for smaller EU member states. No further webinars in the series have been announced, but the report indicates that the remaining nine webinars will cover other priority pests.