Quarantäneschädlinge (QS) sind Organismen mit potentieller Schadwirkung auf Pflanzen in gefährdeten Gebieten, in denen sie bisher noch nicht auftreten oder dort nicht weit verbreitet sind.

Es können Organismen aller Arten, Stämme oder Biotypen von Pflanzen, Tieren oder Krankheitserregern (Bakterien, Pilze oder Viren) sein, die an Pflanzen große wirtschaftliche Schäden anrichten.

Durch deren Einschleppung über den Handel und Verkehr und die Verbreitung stellen sie ein hohes Risiko für unsere Land- und Forstwirtschaft dar.

Seit 14. Dezember 2019 gibt es eine Neueinstufung der Quarantäneschädlinge. Nähere Informationen dazu sind hier zu finden.

Das Auftreten von Quarantäneschädlingen ist beim Amtlichen Pflanzenschutzdienst des betreffenden Bundeslandes meldepflichtig (Kontakte APSD Länder).

Rechtliche Grundlagen hierzu sind das Pflanzenschutzgesetz 2018 idgF., das Pflanzgutgesetz 1997 idgF. und ggf. das Saatgutgesetz 1997 idgF.

Die Fachgruppe des Amtlichen Pflanzenschutzdienstes koordiniert die phytosanitären Angelegenheiten im Bereich QS.

Quick search "Invasive plants" in the AGES pest database

The vast majority of exotic plants integrate into the local flora without any problems. However, some species can cause considerable damage in their new habitat. These plants can repress indigenous species and change the structure and function of ecological systems in the  long-term. These non-indigenous plants -- also referred to as “invasive” plants -- are considered the second largest threat to biological diversity at present. Moreover, such non-indigenous plants may cause considerable commercial damage -- e.g. in agriculture -- or pose a threat to human health.

There are currently about 1,100 non-indigenous plant species in Austria. Approximately one fifth of these species has been able to gain a permanent foothold in the wild. At present, 17 species are classified as invasive from an environmental perspective. These include the tree of heaven (ailanthus altissima) and the black locust or false acacia (robinia pseudoacacia). A further 18 species are considered potentially invasive and are likely to cause ecological problems should they continue to spread. Invasive, non-indigenous plants mostly invade habitats such as wetlands, tall forb meadows and the dry locations of the Pannonian region.

There are several problematic species in agriculture, too. Some of them have become a permanent part of the local weed flora over the decades, while others have arrived more recently. One example of an “established” weed species is the red-root amaranth or common tumbleweed (Amaranthus retroflexus). This plant originated in the central and eastern regions of the USA and in northeast Mexico. It is believed that LINNAEUS introduced this species in around 1750 to cultivate it at the botanical garden in Uppsala. In western Europe, this species first occurred subspontaneously in Paris in 1783 and spread rapidly over wide areas of Europe and to Austria from about 1800 onwards. On the other hand, the appearance of new, often warmth-loving weeds has been observed to an increasing degree in agriculture. Such plants include nut grass (Cyperus esculentus), goosegrass (Eleusine indica), velvet weed (Abutilon theophrasti) and the Apple of Peru (Nicandra physalodes).

It is a fact that new species will be added to the current list on an ongoing basis. There are many reasons for this: introduction via contaminated seed material, traded goods and vehicles, or ornamental plants that have spread into the wild. Another cause not to be underestimated is climate change. It facilitates the appearance of new weed species that are indigenous to the meridional-subtropical regions in Austria. However, many long established, warmth-loving species that are currently only found in specific regions in Austria will also benefit, such as the common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), for instance. This plant is currently limited to Austria’s warmer lowlands. A more rapid spread of this species into other areas of Austria is expected as a result of climate change.

• Umweltbundesamt
• NeoFlor
• EPPO
• NOBANIS
• DAISIE