Among the pests studied by the Panel was Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), the cause of one of the most dangerous banana plant diseases. Of the virus diseases affecting bananas worldwide, BBTV is by far the most serious and can have a devastating effect on crops. Plants infected with BBTV can be spotted easily as their leaves curl up and stand erect. More importantly, the plant in question produces small and distorted fruit or no fruit at all. The BBTV is transmitted by an insect, the banana aphid, or by infected planting material[2], often imported by banana growers to populate new plantations.

BBTV is currently present in many Asian and African countries, as well as Oceania and Hawaii. The EFSA Plant Health Panel concluded that the phytosanitary risk associated with BBTV is extremely high. The Panel considers that there is a high probability that the virus could enter, establish itself and spread in the French overseas departments where it is currently not present. If it were to do so, it would cause severe losses to local banana plantations.

Following the same request from the European Commission, EFSA has also studied the risk posed by other pests to citrus crops grown in the French overseas departments. The scientific opinions on citrus pests are currently being finalised by the Plant Health Panel in view of their publication in May.

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