Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO/OEPP) is a regional, governmental body, which has 33 member countries in Europe, North Africa, and Middle East. Its former activities were mainly concentrated on phytosanitary problems, but recently more attention has been paid on coordinating research activities and, especially, on problems associated with the use of pesticides in plant protection. On the Rodent Branch EPPO has at present three working units: 1. The Working Group on Field Rodents, concentrated primarily on biological aspects of the control of Microtines and other injurious rodents causing damage on field crops, horticulture, and forestry; 2. The Rodenticide Panel, which simultaneously with other expert panels of the Working Party on Pesticides in Plant Protection, has the development of standard methods for rodenticide tests as its main task; and 3. A Working Party for Muskrat Problems. As one of its main initiatives the Working Group on Field Rodents has started a critical mapping out of the economic importance as well as geographical and ecological range of the most prominent rodent problems in the member countries.