Plant Health

Italy Adopts Emergency Plant Health Action Plans for Popillia japonica in Liguria and Veneto

Italy’s plant‑health authority has made Ordinance 12/2026 effective from 30 January 2026, approving detailed emergency action plans to eradicate or contain Popillia japonica in newly demarcated areas of Liguria and Veneto.[^1^](http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2026/04/07/26A01683/SG)[^2^](https://www.protezionedellepiante.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/masaf-2026-0046615-odsfc12papopillialiguriaeveneto_signed.pdf) For growers, nurseries, turf producers and logistics operators in these zones, the plans mean long‑term seasonal bans and strict controls on soil, plant residues, host plants and high‑risk sites, requiring changes to irrigation, movement, pest‑control and plant‑passporting practices to avoid sanctions and further spread.

10 Apr 2026, 13:39gazzettaufficiale.itItaly

Italy Agriculture Ministry Adopts Emergency Action Plan for Anoplophora glabripennis in Veneto

Italy’s agriculture ministry has approved an emergency regional action plan for the Asian longhorned beetle (*Anoplophora glabripennis*) in Veneto, with Ordinance No. 13 effective from 30 January 2026 and published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on 7 April 2026.[^1^](http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2026/04/07/26A01682/SG#:~:text=Adozione%20di%20misure%20fitosanitarie%20d'emergenza) This locks Veneto into the EU plant‑health regime for this priority quarantine pest, meaning nurseries, municipalities and wood‑supply operators in the region must align local surveillance, host‑tree removal and movement controls with the annexed action plan and its implementation of EU rules.

10 Apr 2026, 13:37gazzettaufficiale.itItaly

France (PACA) Prefect Establishes Buffer Zone and Movement Controls for Popillia japonica

In March 2026, the Prefect of Provence‑Alpes‑Côte d’Azur created a Popillia japonica buffer zone in two Hautes‑Alpes communes and imposed strict controls on the movement of soil, green waste and rooted plants under the EU plant‑health regime. Operators and land managers in these communes now face ongoing declaration, surveillance and plant‑passport obligations, making local logistics, landscaping and plant trade subject to quarantine‑style controls to protect regional agriculture and ecosystems.

10 Apr 2026, 12:57draaf.paca.agriculture.gouv.frFrance

EFSA Online Training on Evaluating Emergency Authorisations of Pesticides Using EFSA Protocol

EFSA will hold three online training editions in May–June 2026 on applying its protocol to evaluate emergency authorisations of insecticide and acaricide uses under the EU Plant Protection Products Regulation. Companies and growers that rely on emergency authorisations may wish to attend or review materials so that future applications better reflect EFSA’s expectations on alternative controls and action plans, improving approval prospects and avoiding repeated emergency derogations.

10 Apr 2026, 11:10efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

APHA Sets October 2026 Start for Plant Health Civil Sanctions in England and Wales

The UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will begin enforcing new civil sanctions for plant health violations in England and Wales from October 2026. Professional operators have a six-month window to align with updated guidance before the agency deploys expanded enforcement tools, including stop notices and financial penalties.

9 Apr 2026, 17:42gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Calabria Confirms Emergency Use of JUVINAL GOLD (Pyriproxyfen) on Actinidia Until 17 July 2026

Calabria has granted emergency derogation for Pyriproxyfen-based JUVINAL GOLD on kiwifruit crops through July 17, 2026. This provides critical temporary market access for pest management, necessitating strict compliance with regional application windows and label instructions.

EU PAFF Plant Health Committee Publishes Agenda For 20–21 April 2026 Meeting On Pest Measures And Import Controls

The EU PAFF Committee will meet in April 2026 to advance draft measures on plant pest emergencies and updated import check frequencies for plants and wood packaging. Supply chain operators should prepare for potential adjustments to border control intensities and stricter phytosanitary requirements for high-risk commodities and third-country imports.

5 Apr 2026, 18:26food.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Sweden Tightens Guidelines for Plant Importers to Control Invasive Leaf Flatworm (Obama nungara)

Sweden has implemented stricter inspection and sanitization mandates for plant importers to combat the spread of the invasive leaf flatworm. Importers must formalize biosecurity action plans and prepare for increased enforcement inspections to avoid costly batch destructions or market access restrictions.

4 Apr 2026, 10:57lansstyrelsen.seSweden

Sweden (KemI) Updates Distributor Training Rules for Plant Protection Products

Sweden has updated mandatory training and certification requirements for all distributors of plant protection products, including e-commerce operators. Businesses must verify that supply chain partners transition to the new outdoor-use training standard at renewal to maintain market access and avoid distribution disruptions.

3 Apr 2026, 18:17kemi.seSweden

Sweden (KemI) Approves New Plant Protection Products and Updates Conditions (Q1 2026)

Sweden's KemI has issued Q1 2026 decisions for plant protection products, including 10 new approvals and mandatory phase-outs for fenpropidin-based registrations. Companies must prioritize ATP 22 labeling updates by May 1, 2026, and manage inventory transitions to avoid non-compliance after the May 31 use-up deadline.

3 Apr 2026, 18:16kemi.seSweden

EFSA Approves Methodology for Estimating Pest Survey Parameters for Detection Surveys

EFSA has approved a new methodology for estimating pest survey parameters to standardize the detection of plant pests across the EU. This framework will drive more rigorous national monitoring programs, increasing biosecurity scrutiny and data requirements for agricultural supply chains.

2 Apr 2026, 10:18open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

Missouri House Advances Bill Adding Xylazine to Schedule III Controlled Substances

Missouri is advancing legislation to schedule xylazine as a controlled substance and tighten permits for invasive plants, with key changes expected by August 2026. Businesses must prepare for increased regulatory oversight on veterinary drugs and stricter affidavit requirements for seed and plant sales.

2 Apr 2026, 08:43house.mo.govUnited States

Romania ANF Installs Final Equipment for New Residue-Analysis Laboratories in Bacău, Slatina and Arad

Romania is significantly expanding its pesticide residue monitoring capacity with three new laboratories set to become operational for the upcoming agricultural season. Companies should prepare for increased market surveillance and more frequent phytosanitary testing of plant-based products in the Romanian market.

2 Apr 2026, 07:55anfdf.roRomania

China: Shandong Province Issues 2026 "No. 1 Document" With 33 Measures for Comprehensive Rural Revitalisation

Shandong Province has issued its 2026 "No. 1 Document," setting 33 priority tasks for agricultural modernization, food security, and rural environmental governance. This signals a strategic shift toward "normalised" rural assistance and stricter environmental targets, likely driving future infrastructure investment and wastewater management standards.

1 Apr 2026, 19:45shandong.gov.cnChina

Calabria Region Confirms Emergency Derogation for Plant‑Protection Product CLOSER (Sulfoxaflor) on Citrus and Stone Fruit

Calabria has authorized an emergency derogation for the pesticide CLOSER (sulfoxaflor) on citrus and stone fruits, effective until July 9, 2026. This highlights ongoing regional reliance on emergency authorizations for pest management, requiring supply chain teams to monitor local compliance windows and residue risks.

1 Apr 2026, 14:41regione.calabria.itItalyIT_78

EU Commission Confirms Siltac Is a Plant Protection Product Requiring Authorisation Under Regulation 1107/2009

The European Commission confirmed in March 2026 that products acting via physical mechanisms, such as Siltac, are classified as Plant Protection Products (PPPs) under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. Manufacturers must now secure full PPP authorizations for continued market access, ending the use of non-PPP regulatory pathways for siloxane-based insect control.

31 Mar 2026, 21:29europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Norway Consults on Amendments to Plant Protection Products Regulation

Norway has proposed amendments to its Plant Protection Products Regulation, introducing stricter security checks for high-hazard gassing and new certifications for biological forestry treatments. These changes signal a shift toward more granular risk management, balancing simplified access for biological controls with enhanced environmental and user-safety safeguards.

31 Mar 2026, 21:28hoering.mattilsynet.noNorway

Italy: Autonomous Province of Bolzano Bans Bee-Harmful Pesticides During Flowering for Apple Varieties

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano has implemented a ban on 15 bee-harmful active substances in plant protection products during the flowering of specific apple varieties, effective March 25, 2026. Agricultural operators must adjust pest management schedules and substance selection to ensure compliance with localized pollinator protection mandates and seasonal application windows.

31 Mar 2026, 19:38agricoltura.provincia.bz.itItaly

Japan MAFF Registers Three Pesticides in Kanpō Issue No. 1671

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) officially registered three new pesticide formulations in March 2026 under the Pesticide Control Act. These approvals grant market access for specific herbicide and insecticide products, signaling the latest authorized chemistries for the Japanese agricultural sector.

31 Mar 2026, 19:38kanpo.go.jpJapan

Sweden: New Spray-Log Documentation Rules and 2027 Digital-Only Requirement for Professional Plant Protection Products

Sweden is mandating expanded record-keeping for professional plant protection product use starting January 2026, with a transition to digital-only documentation by 2027. Professional users must modernize data management systems to capture granular application details, ensuring compliance with stricter traceability and sustainable use reporting standards.

31 Mar 2026, 19:19jordbruksverket.seSweden