Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on 30 pest risk assessments made by France on organisms which are considered by France as harmful in four French overseas departments, i.e. French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. In particular, the Panel was asked whether these organisms can be considered as harmful organisms for the endangered area of the above departments, in the meaning of the definition mentioned in Article 2.1.(e) of Directive 2000/29/EC and thus potentially eligible for addition to the list of harmful organisms in Directive 2000/29/EC. 

This document presents the opinion of the Panel on Plant Health on the simplified pest risk assessment conducted by France on Citrus yellow mosaic virus or Citrus mosaic badnavirus, with French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion considered as endangered area. The Panel will use the internationally accepted name of Citrus mosaic virus (CMBV) in the following text.  

CMBV is a member of the family Caulimoviridae, genus Badnavirus, which causes a mosaic disease in citrus that has been termed citrus mosaic disease or citrus yellow mosaic disease. 

This virus is currently restricted to India. The causal agent is transmitted by grafting and experimentally, by mechanical inoculation and by the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso). CMBV causes mosaic and yellow flecking along the veins of the leaves. Trees affected by the disease not only show significant yield reduction, but also a decrease in the quality of fruits (less juice and ascorbic acid). The virus can infect and cause symptoms in almost all citrus species and cultivars. 

The overall conclusion of the Panel is that CMBV could pose a risk to citrus production in the French overseas departments and that this pathogen is listed (in Annex IIAI) of Directive 2000/29/EC as Citrus mosaic virus.