European Commission adds two pests to Union temporary import-and-movement prohibition and extends three others
Importers and EU plant-trade operators are barred from introducing, moving, holding, multiplying or releasing Copitarsia decolora and Lagria villosa (until 2031) and three previously listed pests (extended to 2030)
Change
On 9 July 2026 the European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1553, amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1941 to prohibit the introduction, movement, holding, multiplication and release of Copitarsia decolora and Lagria villosa in the Union until 30 June 2031, and to extend the prohibition on Chloridea virescens, Homona magnanima and Spodoptera ornithogalli from 31 May 2027 to 31 May 2030; it enters into force 20 days after its 10 July 2026 publication and is directly applicable in all Member States.
Why it matters
The amendment imposes a binding, Union-wide prohibition, directly applicable in all Member States. Operators handling plants, plant products and other objects from third countries where the two newly listed pests occur must prevent any introduction into or movement within the Union of affected consignments, since the host plants of Copitarsia decolora and Lagria villosa continue to arrive in large volumes and both pests have been intercepted at Union borders. The three extended listings buy time for the Commission to determine, by 31 May 2030, whether those pests should become Union quarantine pests.
Implications
- — Importers of plants, plant products and other objects from third countries must not introduce consignments carrying Copitarsia decolora or Lagria villosa into the Union — introduction, movement, holding, multiplication and release are prohibited until 30 June 2031, and since host plants of both pests continue to be imported in volume, consignment checks against these species need to be in place now.
- — EU plant-production and intra-Union distribution operators (nurseries, wholesalers, transporters) must not move, hold, multiply or release consignments containing any of the five listed pests within the Union until the respective expiry dates — 30 June 2031 for the two new species and 31 May 2030 for the three extended ones.
- — Member State plant-health authorities must apply and enforce the amended Annex from entry into force, maintaining the prohibitions until 31 May 2030 (Chloridea virescens, Homona magnanima, Spodoptera ornithogalli) and 30 June 2031 (Copitarsia decolora, Lagria villosa) while the full risk analyses that determine any permanent Union quarantine-pest listing are completed.
Who is affected
- — Importers of plants, plant products and other objects originating from third countries
- — EU plant-production and intra-Union distribution operators (nurseries, wholesalers, transporters)
- — Member State plant-health authorities
What to watch
- — Enters into force: 30 July 2026 — 20 days after the 10 July 2026 Official Journal publication; the amended prohibitions apply from that date.
- — Expiry: 31 May 2030 — extended prohibition on Chloridea virescens, Homona magnanima and Spodoptera ornithogalli ends unless further action is taken.
- — Expiry: 30 June 2031 — temporary prohibition on Copitarsia decolora and Lagria villosa ends unless they are made permanent Union quarantine pests.