Brussels, 29/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 29 October the standing committee on plant health in the EU endorsed the emergency measures proposed by the European Commission to tackle a harmful bacterium (not native to Europe) which attacks kiwi plant species. The kiwi canker pathogen (pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae) is a plant disease which does not affect public health but attacks kiwi plants causing high losses to kiwi fruit production. This disease, which has been observed in some southern European countries (France, Italy, Portugal and Spain), is causing concern over the future of kiwi fruit production. Italy is the biggest global producer of kiwi fruit (416,000 tonnes in 2010) and France, Spain and Greece (which is so far free from the bacterium) are among the biggest global producers (with kiwi production respectively of 70,000 tonnes, 23,000 tonnes and 116,000 tonnes in 2010). The new EU measures will be applicable from the date of their publication in the Official Journal in November. They require that kiwi plants and pollen for pollination of kiwis come from countries or areas free of bacteria and that strict requirements are respected to protect against the spread of this disease. Member states will also be able to apply protected zones to bacteria free areas and carry out inspections to better map the extent of the disease. The measures will not apply to the trade of kiwi fruit as the bacterium is not transmitted through the fruit. EU financial assistance is available to member states to implement their eradication campaign. (LC/transl.fl)