Mandatory notification

If a quarantine pests is detected in Switzerland, every effort must be made to eradicate it and to prevent it from spreading. Quarantine pests are therefore notifiable (Article 8 of the Plant Health Ordinance, PGesV, SR 916.20).

What harmful organisms are notifiable?

All quarantine pests listed in Annex 1 to the EAER and DETEC Ordinance on the Plant Health Ordinance (PGesV-WBF-UVEK, SR 916.201) and occurring on goods or in crops are notifiable.

List of priority quarantine pests

Fireblight is notifiable in “low-prevalence areas”.

Further information on fireblight

What harmful organisms are non-notifiable?

Harmful organisms which are widely distributed in or native to Switzerland, such as the European corn borer, are non-notifiable.

Who is required to notify a harmful organism?

In principle, the notification obligation applies to any person suspecting or detecting the presence of a quarantine pest.

Who is to be informed of a notifiable harmful organism?

Operators that are authorised to issue plant passports must contact the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service SPPS as soon as possible. Non-authorised operators as well as private individuals must contact the competent cantonal service in case of suspicion.