The new measures update the existing emergency provisions adopted in May this year by adjusting the list of regulated plants in relation to the different subspecies of Xylella fastidiosa found respectively in French and Italian territory.
Furthermore, the new EU measures foresee the possibility for the Italian authorities to authorise in Apulia the planting, for scientific purposes only, of host plants in well-defined parts of the current containment area. Based on a new EFSA opinion on the susceptibility of grapevine to the Apulian strain of Xylella fastidiosa, the deletion of grapevine from the list of regulated plants was not accepted.
However, thermotherapy has been recognised as an effective method to control Xylella fastidiosa on grapevine propagating material within and outside of demarcated areas.
Lastly, Member States have to put in place awareness raising campaigns for the general public, travellers, professional and international transport operators about the threat of this dangerous bacterium, and to prepare contingency plans to ensure better preparedness in case of potential outbreaks. More information on plant health and biosecurity is available online.
