Pests and diseases
Plant diseases and pests are part of every ecosystem – but introduced, non-native species can disrupt the natural balance. In plant health legislation, they are referred to as harmful organisms: pests and diseases that directly endanger plants and can cause significant economic damage. For this reason, particularly harmful organisms are regulated by law and are subject to mandatory reporting and control measures.
Why introduced species are so dangerous
Plants are exposed to a wide variety of diseases and pests. Native harmful organisms are part of our ecosystem: plants and pests have adapted to each other over thousands of years, and natural antagonists such as predators or parasites keep everything in balance. To take one example: ladybirds eat aphids, thereby protecting our crops. Plants themselves have also developed defence mechanisms – a healthy spruce can fend off attacks from native bark beetles by producing resin. However, this balance can be disrupted: following storms or droughts, beetles reproduce rapidly, and even healthy trees have difficulty defending themselves.
Introduced pests and diseases disrupt the balance even more severely. Our plants have no defence against non-native harmful organisms, and natural predators of these organisms are mostly absent in Switzerland. Introduced species can therefore cause enormous damage to agriculture, horticulture and forests – far exceeding the scale of a native pest infestation.
For this reason, plant health legislation regulates certain harmful organisms with particular potential to cause damage. These organisms are divided into various categories, depending on distribution, risk and available control measures: quarantine organisms, priority quarantine organisms, potential quarantine organisms and regulated non-quarantine organisms (RNQO). An overview can be found under ‘Regulated harmful organisms’.
In the context of plant health, harmful organisms are those defined in legislation as pests and diseases that directly damage plants and could therefore cause major problems for agriculture, forests and horticulture. Other invasive non-native species (de, fr, it) such as the Asian hornet and the quagga mussel do not fall under the scope of this regulation.
Quarantine organisms
Quarantine organisms are plant diseases or pests of potential economic importance that are not present in Switzerland or are only present locally. They are subject to general mandatory reporting and control.
Outbreaks can have serious consequences for agriculture, horticulture, forests and recreational areas. Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora), for example, has caused considerable damage to fruit trees in Switzerland over the last 30 years, and the Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) poses a major threat to forests. The aim is to keep these harmful organisms out of Switzerland – or to control them immediately should they arrive.
In order for a harmful organism to be classified as a quarantine organism, a risk analysis must be carried out in accordance with international standards and specific criteria must be met. For example, feasible and effective measures must be available to prevent the introduction and spread of the organism and to mitigate the damage it causes.
In Switzerland, quarantine organisms are regulated in Annex 1 to the Ordinance of the EAER and DETEC on the Plant Health Ordinance (PHO-EAER-DETEC; SR 916.201) (de, fr, it).
Priority quarantine organisms
Priority quarantine organisms are quarantine organisms that are expected to cause the most damage and require the most urgent control. In Switzerland, the following quarantine organisms must currently be treated as a priority in terms of information, monitoring and emergency planning:
Potential quarantine organisms
Potential quarantine organisms are organisms that are known to be particularly harmful, but are still being assessed to determine whether they fulfil the criteria for a quarantine organism. Until this assessment is complete, they are treated similarly to quarantine organisms. Potential quarantine organisms and the temporary measures applicable to them are specified in the FOAG Ordinance on Phytosanitary Measures for Agriculture and Horticulture (PhyMO-FOAG; SR 916.202.1) and the FOEN Ordinance on Phytosanitary Measures for the Forest (PhyMO-FOEN; SR 916.202.2) (de, fr, it).
Mandatory reporting and control
If a quarantine organism is detected in Switzerland, all measures must be taken to eradicate it and prevent it from spreading. For this reason, quarantine organisms are subject to mandatory reporting (Art. 8 of the Plant Health Ordinance, PHO; SR 916.20) (de, fr, it).
In the event of a suspected case:
- Businesses authorised to issue plant passports must contact the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (SPPS) immediately: phyto@blw.admin.ch
- Non-authorised businesses and private individuals must contact the relevant cantonal plant or forest protection service
On the overview page (de, fr, it), you will find a selection of regulated harmful organisms, including profiles, identifying characteristics and their distribution in Switzerland.
Regulated non-quarantine organisms
Regulated non-quarantine organisms (RNQO) are pests or diseases that are already widespread in Switzerland and therefore do not (or no longer) meet the criteria for classification as a quarantine organism. As these organisms spread mainly through seeds and propagating material and an infestation would have significant economic consequences, phytosanitary measures apply to these materials. Examples include fire blight in pome fruits, the plum pox virus in stone fruits, red band needle blight in pines and apple proliferation disease.
Emergency planning
Outbreaks of quarantine organisms can usually be controlled efficiently – provided the relevant authorities are well prepared and the procedures are well coordinated in advance. Plant health legislation stipulates that contingency plans must be drawn up and simulation exercises carried out. This enables a systematic, coordinated response to crisis and emergency situations, ensuring that outbreaks of quarantine organisms are detected and contained swiftly and minimising damage to agriculture, horticulture and forests.
Frequently asked questions
Further information
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Importing plants
If you are planning on importing plants or plant products such as fruit, seeds, cut flowers or wood into Switzerland from another country, you need to observe the applicable provisions. Imports carry the risk of spreading dangerous diseases and pests.
Exporting plants
Exporting plants or plant products such as fruit, seeds, cut flowers or wood from Switzerland to another country.
Japankäfer
Der Japankäfer (Popillia japonica) frisst über 400 verschiedene Nutz- und Zierpflanzen und gefährdet dadurch unsere Pflanzen in der Landwirtschaft, im Gartenbau und in der Umwelt.
Trade in plants and plant material
Plants can be contaminated by dangerous diseases and pests, which is why there are regulations to be aware of when trading in plants.
Contact for questions
Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service SPPS
Schwarzenburgstrasse 165
Switzerland - 3003 Bern