Naupactus xanthographus has had a high economic impact in Chile where the pest has been introduced. It is very polyphagous pest, with a number of fruit trees and bushes (including berries), and herbaceous hosts such as alfalfa. In Chile it is a major pest on grapevine, peach and nectarine.  

The risk of N. xanthographus was assessed without the current specific phytosanitary requirements that are in place in (some) EPPO member states and reduces the risk of the pest (e.g. the EU import prohibition for several host plants and the EU-requirements for growing medium attached to plants were not taken into account). Import of fruit and its packaging material and plants for planting of host plants were considered major (potential) pathways and it was assumed that fruits and plants for planting are being imported from infested areas.

Different life stages of N. xanthographus are associated with different pathways. Adult weevils are the most likely stage to be associated with host fruit. The likelihood of entry on grapes and packaging material of grapes is considered to be moderate with high uncertainty, whereas the risk of other fruits and their packaging material is moderate to low with high uncertainty. The probability of entry on host plants for planting (except seeds, tissue culture, pollen) is higher with growing media attached due to the potential of larvae being associated with the roots: plants with growing media: high with moderate uncertainty; bare rooted plants: moderate with high uncertainty; rooted cuttings in small plugs: very low with moderate uncertainty; unrooted cutting: very low with low uncertainty. 

When considering plants for planting with growing medium, the likelihood of establishment outdoors in the PRA area is high with low uncertainty and the likelihood of establishment in protected conditions is high with moderate uncertainty. The magnitude of spread within the EPPO region is moderate with moderate uncertainty. 

Phytosanitary measures to reduce the probability of entry: Risk management options are considered for host fruit and plants for planting (except seeds, tissue culture, pollen) with or without growing media. 

Overall the EWG considered the phytosanitary risk to the endangered area to be moderate with a moderate uncertainty. However, there was a minority opinion within the EWG that the phytosanitary risk to the endangered area is high with a moderate uncertainty