Lesson 1: What is a Pest-Free Area?
Topic 1: Definition of a Pest-Free Area
In this topic, you will be introduced to the definition and concept of a pest-free area (PFA).
Objective:
- Participants will be able to define a PFA.
There are various ways to create and utilize pest-free areas (PFA), so before we discuss any particular types in detail, we will explain the concept behind the PFA. In brief, a PFA is one of many options in risk management for phytosanitary certification of plants and plant products.
According to ISPM 4:
“A ‘pest-free area’ is an area in which a specific pest does not occur as demonstrated by scientific evidence and in which, where appropriate, this condition is being officially maintained.”
Requirements for the establishment of pest-free areas. (1995) Rome, IPPC, FAO.
In other words, a PFA is an area that has been surveyed and studied, and in which either no evidence for the presence of a particular pest has been found or evidence has been found and there are plans to eradicate it from the area. Once the pest is eradicated, the area must be actively kept free of that specific pest. Therefore, pest-free concepts include any combination of decisions and factors used to exclude pests from a defined area, such as pest management measures, cultural practices, climate, pest biology, physical geography, and others.
There are two general circumstances under which a PFA can be created: declaring an entire country pest-free, and declaring a specific, uninfested part of a country pest-free. When there is a specific, uninfested part of a country, two types of PFAs and associated factors can inform the best way to create and maintain such areas. This will be discussed in more detail later in the module.
Watch the following video for a demonstration of what a common type of PFA looks like.
A PFA is an officially monitored and maintained area that is free of a specific pest. Now that you have a basic understanding of what a PFA is, we will discuss the advantages of creating a PFA in the next topic.
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