Protected Zones, Pests and Diseases

A protected zone is a zone in the Community in which one or more quarantine organisms are present in the Union territory but are absent from specific parts of the territory despite favorable conditions for them to establish themselves there. Their presence would have an unaccepted economic, social or environmental impact.

Ireland’s Protected Zone Pests and Diseases can be found here.

Under Plant Health Regulation (Regulation(EU)2016/2031) plant pests and diseases are categorised as follows:

EU Priority Pests

Priority pests are an extract from the Union list of Quarantine Pests. These 20 pests potentially would have the most severe economic, environmental or social impact if they were to establish in the Union.

Protected Zone Pests

The list of Protected Zone Pests and EPPO codes for issuing on plant passports can be found on the following links:

Ireland's Protected Zone Pests and Diseases

Union Quarantine Pests

Union Quarantine pests are pests that are not present in the EU, or, if they are present, they are not widely distributed and are under official control. These are pests that could establish on the Union territory and could cause significant damage to plants and plant products. Their establishment in the EU would have unacceptable economic, environmental and social impacts.

Non Quarantine Pests (RNQPs)

A non-quarantine pest whose presence in plants for planting affects the intended use of those plants with an economically unacceptable impact and which is therefore regulated within the EU territory. They are generally prohibited in plant reproductive material, however, in certain instances a certain tolerance is allowed.

See our factsheets page for more information on these pests and diseases - Pest Risk Analysis Unit – Plant Pest Factsheets