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EU reinforces measures to prevent spread of harmful bacterium

Xinhua, April 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) agriculture experts have endorsed reinforced measures to prevent further introduction and spread within the EU of Xylella Fastidiosa, said the European Commission on Tuesday.

The bacterium is a quarantine organism harmful to olive trees and potentially dangerous for a broad range of other plants important for the EU agriculture, such as grapevine and citrus, said the European Commission.

The new EU measures, proposed by the European Commission, would require member states to notify new outbreaks in the EU, to carry out official surveys, and to promptly demarcate infested areas.

Strict eradication measures in such areas would be put in place, which include removal and destruction of infested plants, and all host plants within a radius of 100 meters, irrespective of their health status.

Moreover, imports and movement within the EU of specified plants known to be susceptible to Xylella Fastidiosa worldwide would be subject to strict conditions.

The occurrence of Xylella Fastidiosa in the EU was first notified by the Italian authorities in October of 2013, with the entire province of Lecce in the south of Italy affected by this organism.

EU emergency measures were first taken in February 2014 and further detailed in July 2014. Endit