Emerging pests
Emerging pests
Process for identifying, nominating and assessing emerging pests of IPPC global concern in the POARS
POARS Process
POARS Process
The POARS Steering Group has designed a structured approach for identifying, nominating, and assessing
potential emerging pests of global concern under the IPPC framework.
The goal is to rapidly mobilize resources to prevent spread, enhance preparedness, and ensure effective response.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Identifying Emerging Pests - Through pest reporting and horizon scanning.
Step 2: Nominating Pests - Via NPPOs, RPPOs, or the IPPC Secretariat.
Step 3: Assessment - Evaluating pests based on established criteria.
Pests meeting the criteria are classified as emerging pests, leading to targeted actions. Others may be added to a watch list or excluded.
Criteria for assesing emerging pests
Emerging Pest Criteria
Emerging Pest Criteria
The emerging pest criteria are split into three steps:
- Distribution and spread – to show the pest is spreading and is not yet widespread.
- Current impact – to show the pest is already economically and/or environmentally damaging.
- Risk evidence – to show the pest is capable of entering, establishing and causing substantial impacts in new areas, and will be difficult to manage once introduced.
The full set of emerging pest criteria are below (Table 1).
Table 1. Emerging Pest Criteria
| Criterion |
Description |
Condition to Pass |
| Step 1: Distribution and Spread |
| Recent geographical spread |
Recent pest outbreaks are reported in more than one area, showing a significant expansion of the pest’s distribution. |
Both criteria must be met to proceed to Step 2. |
| Current distribution |
The pest has a limited distribution in its endangered area. |
|
| Step 2: Current Impact |
| Economic impact |
The pest is causing substantial economic impact according to ISPM 11 and supplement 2 of ISPM 5. |
At least one criterion must be met to proceed to Step 3. |
| Environmental impact |
The pest is causing substantial environmental impact according to ISPM 11 and supplement 2 of ISPM 5. |
|
| Step 3: Risk Evidence |
| Likelihood of introduction into new areas |
The pest has a high likelihood of introduction in new areas based on assessment in line with ISPM 11. |
All conditions must be met to be classified as an emerging pest of global concern. |
| Scale of impacts in new areas |
The pest is likely to cause substantial impacts based on assessment in line with ISPM 11. |
|
| Risk management |
The pest risk is likely to be difficult to manage effectively in new areas. |
|
Pest Categorization
Based on the assessment, pests are categorized as follows:
- Emerging pest: A pest that meets the relevant criteria of all three steps.
- Non-emerging pest for the watch list: Pests that meet the criteria of the first step but do not meet all the criteria at the current impact and risk evidence steps. These pests require ongoing observation with reassessment if new data becomes available.
- Non-emerging pest with no follow-up actions: A pest that does not meet any of the criteria in Step 1 for distribution and spread.
