France
January 31, 2025

As the National Plant Health Reference Laboratory for the detection of non-quarantine regulated organisms (NQROs), mainly on seed matrix, GEVES is responsible for developing and validating methods with the aim of making them official.

In this context, and to comply with European regulation 2016/2031, the Physical Analysis laboratory has developed a qualitative method for detecting and identifying the presence of live NQRO insects in a seed sample. This method applies to the following pathosystems:

• Acanthoscelides obtectus / Phaseolus coccineus 
• Acanthoscelides obtectus / Phaseolus vulgaris
• Bruchus pisorum / Pisum sativum
• Bruchus rufimanus / Vicia faba

This method involves a visual inspection of the seed sample to detect any pests that may be present. An optional second step of inspection of the internal morphology of the seeds by radiography or dissection is proposed and recommended. Regulated bruchid species may have hidden forms inside the seeds. Insects are identified visually on the basis of morphological characteristics (shape, structure, colour, etc.).

This method was made official on 2 December 2024 by the Ministry of Agriculture. All the official published methods proposed by GEVES are available on its website.

Website: http://www.geves.fr

Published: January 31, 2025