(AGENPARL) - Roma, 3 Marzo 2026 - (AGENPARL) – Tue 03 March 2026 Screenshot (124).png
 Read the news also in:
 Machine-translated versions are also available in all EU languages on the EFSA website.
EFSA is publicly consulting on two draft scientific opinions presenting the latest evidence on how Xylella fastidiosa can be managed in the EU. They cover direct vector control strategies, experimental treatments in plants, and other risk reduction measures.
The draft analyses show that EU‑approved synthetic active substances currently demonstrate the most consistent effects in reducing vector survival, while a wide range of biological, non‑synthetic active substances and field-management practices continue to be investigated for their potential to reduce disease symptoms or bacterial populations in host plants. 
They also highlight several knowledge gaps, such as limited field‑scale studies (i.e. on farmland), variability in experimental design, and a scarcity of data on the effects that treatments have on pathogen transmission. 
The two draft scientific opinions 
Antonio Vicent Civera, Chair of EFSA’s Plant Health Panel, said: “These new analyses provide an updated and comprehensive overview of the available evidence on both vector control and management strategies in plants, strengthening the scientific basis for future decision‑making on Xylella fastidiosa.” 
Public consultation and next steps
Both opinions are open for public consultation until 10 April 2026, with stakeholders, researchers and citizens invited to provide scientific feedback. After the consultation closes, EFSA will review and integrate relevant input into the final version of each opinion. In parallel, EFSA is preparing an update of its 2019 scientific opinion on Xylella fastidiosa, which will undergo a public consultation in mid-2026. 
The completed assessments will support the work of Member States and the European Commission for a potential review of current EU plant health measures against Xylella fastidiosa. 
Notes to the editor 
Xylella fastidiosa is a plant‑pathogenic bacterium that infects the xylem of many crops and trees, including olives, grapevines and almonds. Spread by xylem‑feeding insects such as spittlebugs, it can cause leaf scorch, dieback and, in severe cases, plant decline. Since its first detection in Europe in 2013, it has been considered a major plant‑health threat due to its wide host range and potential economic impact.
Links to science
————————————————————
Should you wash fruit even if you don’t eat the peel? Would you dare eat cricket-based hamburgers? Do you trust the food you eat?
Keen to find out more about the science behind safe food? Then welcome to Science on the menu, a podcast produced by the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA. In each episode, we’ll take you on a journey into the science behind our food.
For inquiries please contact:
EFSA Media Relations Office
______________________
European Food Safety Authority, Via Carlo Magno 1/a, Parma, . 43126 Italy