In response to a request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) has carried out a risk assessment of the bacterium Psychrobacter sp., a component of the plant protection product Nemaslug®.

Background

The plant protection product Nemaslug®, approved for use in Norway since 2005, contains the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita. This nematode carries a symbiotic bacterium that acts as the active biocontrol organism by producing toxins that kill snails upon infection. The background for this assignment is that it was revealed that the bacterium in Nemaslug® is not Moraxella osloensis, upon which the previous approval was based. Instead, it has been identified as a species in the bacterial genus Psychrobacter, most likely Psychrobacter faecalis, alternatively Psychrobacter pulmonis. The present assessment will form the basis for the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's decision on whether Nemaslug® should retain its approval for use in Norway or not.

Results

• There is limited information on the health risks of Psychrobacter sp. In humans. Knowledge about antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity in the genus Psychrobacter is largely inadequate.

• Information regarding the occurrence of Psychrobacter sp. in Norway is lacking. The potential for the spread and establishment of Psychrobacter sp. in the environment under Norwegian conditions is considered to be low.

• There is uncertainty regarding the risk posed by Nemaslug® to non-target organisms, especially molluscs. Research is needed in this area.

• Further taxonomic analysis and complete genome sequencing are required to confirm the species affiliation of the bacterium in Nemaslug®.

Conclusions

Although there is limited information regarding the health risks posed by the bacterium Psychrobacter sp. in humans, it is generally considered a low-risk pathogen. The health risk to humans from the use of Nemaslug® is therefore considered to be low, but the risk to highly infection-prone patient groups cannot be excluded. There is no evidence of health problems arising from the consumption of foods treated with Nemaslug®.

Method

VKM obtained data and information from the applicant via the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and VKM's previous report on Nemaslug®. A thorough literature search was conducted to obtain further relevant information.

The assessment has been approved by VKM's Panel on Plant Health.