At present, EU council directive 2000/29/EC lists Xf as an Annex IIAII statutory organism on Fragaria plants intended for planting, other than seeds. Fragaria plants must either originate from a pest free country or area (within the EU) or a production place where no symptoms of Xf have been observed since the beginning of the last complete cycle of vegetation. However, the requirement of absence of symptoms does not ensure pest freedom, mainly because of the possibility of symptomless infection of planting material with Xf. Because Xf is already present in many EU-countries and is generally not considered a pest of major economic importance, removal of Xf from the EU quarantine list has been suggested. The current PRA evaluates the risk of Xf for the EU and can be used by risk managers to reconsider the current statutory position of the pathogen.