Following a request from the National Plant Protection Organisation of the Netherlands, the Office for Risk assessment & research (BuRO) conducted a Commodity risk assessment of Fragaria seeds for the European Union (EU). Plant pests (including pathogens) were identified that can be transmitted through seeds of Fragaria. For those seed-transmitted pests that are not regulated in the EU, it was evaluated whether they fulfil the criteria of a Union quarantine pest (EU-Q).
Evidence of seed transmission in Fragaria was found for five viruses: Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV, Nepovirus arabis), beet ringspot virus (BRSV, Nepovirus betae), Fragaria chiloensis latent virus (FCiLV, Ilarvirus FCILV), raspberry ringspot virus (RpRSV, Nepovirus rubri), and strawberry necrotic shock virus (SNSV, Ilarvirus SNSV). Limited or inconclusive evidence for seed transmission was found for Fragaria chiloensis cryptic virus (FClCV) and tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV, Nepovirus lycopersici). Three out of these seven viruses (BRSV, FCiLV and FClCV) are not regulated in the EU. They do not qualify for a EU-Q status. BRSV may be quite common in the EU because of its long history of presence in Europe and broad host range. For FCiLV and FClCV, no economic impact is expected if they were to establish in the EU. Three of the viruses (ArMV, RpRSV and ToRSV) are Union regulated non-quarantine pests, of which ArMV and RpRSV are regulated for plants for planting (including seeds) of Fragaria. SNSV is an EU-Q and special requirements are in place for plants for planting of Fragaria, but seeds are exempted from these requirements. 

No bacterial or fungal pathogens or plant-parasitic nematodes were identified for which seed transmission has been demonstrated in Fragaria. A few fungi that are known to infect the strawberry fruit have been found to be seed-borne in Fragaria seeds. Cultivated Fragaria plants have so far mainly been propagated vegetatively. Consequently, there is little experience available on transmission of pests through Fragaria seeds and more pests may be seed-transmitted in Fragaria than currently known. Seed transmission of plant-parasitic nematodes seems unlikely because they are not or rarely associated with fruit of Fragaria.