The EPPO PRA for Agrilus anxius: Assessment for Norwegian conditions

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) considers the probability of the bronze birch borer Agrilus anxius to establish and spread within Norway to be very high, if the borer enters the country. A large number of birch trees are likely to be killed, causing major economic and environmental consequences.
These are conclusion given by VKM in a risk assessment requested by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet). Agrilus anxius is the most serious pest of birch trees in North America, causing widespread mortality of birch (Betula spp.) throughout the continent. So far the pest is not known to be present outside Canada and USA. VKM considers the probability of entry to Norway to be low to medium high. The endangered area is regarded as the forested area of southern Norway, south of Nordland County, and Pasvik in eastern Finnmark.