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Xylella fastidiosa: More risk based and targeted measures to prevent its entry into and spread within the Union
Today, the Commission published new measures on Xylella fastidiosa with the aim to ensure a better protection of the Union territory, while ensuring more targeted and risk based control measures in the current outbreak areas.
In line with the latest scientific evidences of the European Food Safety Authority, the new provisions foresee an increased level of surveillance in the Union territory, more awareness on the threats posed by the pest and more risk-based controls on susceptible plant species moved into and within the Union.
The eradication of the pest remains the first objective to pursue in the interest of EU agriculture, natural ecosystems and local economies. However, where this is no longer feasible, an active containment of the outbreak areas should be guaranteed. More flexible measures have been also introduced on replanting of susceptible plant species in the zones affected by the pest.
The new eradication measures foresee a reduced width of the “clear-cut” approach from 100 m to 50 m, where all specified plants found infected in the demarcated area concerned shall be removed irrespective of their health status; reduced width for the buffer zones surrounding the infected zones; and more intensive monitoring and vector control activities to ensure quicker and more decisive actions at an early stage.
More information here. #Xylella #planthealth
