Brussels, 29/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU experts reached agreement on Tuesday 28 April on European measures to prevent further introduction and spread of the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium, which can kill olive trees, active in the south of Italy. Only Italy voted against measures which it deemed too draconian. The reinforced measures will put in place a buffer zone of 20 kilometres around infested areas in the Italian province of Lecce (Puglia). Infested trees will be felled and strict testing will be undertaken on all the plants within 100 metres of any infected tree, the European Commission states in a press release.
Member states will also be required to notify any appearance of the bacterium within their borders and to demarcate infested areas. In the event of a new outbreak, all plants that could harbour the bacterium (some 200 species, including vines and lemon trees) within 100 metres must be destroyed, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Experts on the phytosanitary committee have decided to make the import and movement within the EU of the plants concerned subject to “strict conditions”. They did not, however, impose a ban on the import of living plants from the affected area. France, which adopted just such an embargo at the start of April, particularly as a result of concern in Corsica, will lift the ban once the new measures are officially adopted, said the French Agriculture Ministry (see EUROPE 11290).
Ban on coffee plants from Honduras and Costa Rica. Strict conditions will be placed on the import and movement within the EU of plants from all over the world known to be susceptible to Xylella fastidiosa. The EU has also decided to put a specific ban on the import of coffee plants from Honduras and Costa Rica, which are thought to be the cause of the appearance, detected in October 2013, of the bacterium in Italy.
Italy, accused of not applying the eradication measures prescribed by the EU from February 2014 in the face of the outcry in the country at the prospect of destroying centuries-old olive groves, stood isolated, according to a European source, the vote having pitted all the experts against their Italian colleague.
Some 10% of the 11 million olive trees in the Lecce region have been infested, the Italian authorities report. Cutting the trees down is the only solution, in the view of EU experts.
The Italian government has made €14 million available for local authorities to help holdings affected, and European co-funding is possible for grubbing-up. No provision has been made for compensation, however, a European source has revealed.
French Agriculture Minister Stéphane Le Foll has welcomed the European measures which will “enhance the effectiveness of efforts against this bacterium”, a Ministry press release says. It goes on to state that Le Foll “reaffirms his support for Italy which is faced with a severe outbreak in the Puglia region” and he highlights “the solidarity that has to be shown with Italy and its producers because only effective management of this outbreak will be enough to protect the whole area of the European Union”. (Lionel Changeur)