EFSA, the European Commission and 12 Member States, including Cyprus, are working together to protect the European Union from plant pests through the #PlantHealth4Life campaign, a joint initiative to raise awareness of plant health risks With the participation of people from across the EU, and with the message "Keep plants healthy, protect life": we all have our own important role to play, the aim is to create a collective sense of responsibility to maintain plant health.

The great pressures on plants

Plants are the driving force behind life on Earth: they provide us with the air we breathe and our food. Today, plants are under great pressure due to climate change and human activities such as trade and travel. Plant pests can lead to huge economic and environmental losses. For example, the pine nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, found in Portugal and Spain, has destroyed vast areas of forest in these countries. The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa destroyed millions of olive trees in Puglia, Italy, while cases have been reported in several other southern European countries. The sensitization of importers and nursery owners by the Department of Agriculture and the systematic controls on plant imports have so far prevented the introduction of this bacterium in the Republic of Cyprus. But there are examples of plant pests threatening the country's landscape and ecosystems. Typical examples are the red palm beetle (Rhynchoforus ferrugineus), which caused huge damage to palm trees throughout the country in the last decade.

The "dangerous" amateur... gardener

Transporting plants from third-party destinations and planting them at home is common, especially for many travellers, amateur gardeners and farmers. The latter even believe that they are doing something good for their garden by ignoring what actually applies to the danger they may pose, especially exotic plants. The same goes for all amateur gardeners who order plants or seeds online, which have stood out and want them at home. That is why it is very important to be properly informed about the issue. On the campaign website #PlantHealth4Life you can find material translated into all EU languages – press releases, videos, ready-made social media posts. Together we can ensure a healthier future for ourselves, our communities and the environment!

EFSA's role

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is a European Union agency established in 2002 to act as an impartial source of scientific advice for risk managers and to inform about risks associated with the agri-food chain. It works with relevant bodies to promote coherence of EU scientific advice and provides the scientific basis for laws and regulations to protect European consumers from food-related risks, from production to consumption.