Brussels, 30/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU member state experts gave their approval on Friday 27 March to detailed emergency measures, proposed by the Commission, to prevent the further introduction and spread within the EU of the Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), an insect harmful to broad-leaved trees, potentially killing them and thereby causing severe economic and environmental losses in areas affected.
Outbreaks and findings of the Asian longhorn beetle have so far been reported by six member states (Austria, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom). The Commission has developed a detailed management strategy on the eradication and containment of this pest, including a requirement to raise public awareness about the Asian longhorn beetle. Last year, the EU co-financed ten eradication campaigns in five member states costing €1.12 million. The new EU measures will apply from the date of publication in the Official Journal in May 2015 and will provide member states with harmonised EU legal guidance on the eradication measures to be taken in case of an outbreak. They include obligations to notify any outbreak, official annual surveys, demarcation of infested areas, monitoring, as well as removal and destruction of infested plants. The measures also provide conditions on the import and movement of particular plants, wood and wood packaging materials which host this insect. (Lionel Changeur)