Published the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2352 concerning Xylella fastidiosa

On December 14, 2017, the COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2017/2352 has been published.

The new decision, amending the Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789, as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.), introduces several major changes:

• the width of the buffer zones has been reduced to 5 Km, or even 1 Km, in case of high confidence that no spread occurred from the infected hosts. However, the reduction is not applicable in the case of an infected zone for the purpose of containment measures (i.e. the case of Italy)
• the possibility to derogate from the prohibition of the planting of the host plants in infected areas has been introduced. The concerned Member State may grant authorisations for the planting within the infected zones, giving preference to host plants belonging to varieties assessed as being resistant or tolerant to the specified organism.
• important modifications have been introduced in the Art. 9, regulating the production and movement of plants for planting. Of particular relevance is the new regulation regarding Coffea spp., Lavandula dentata, Nerium oleanderL., Olea europaea L., Polygala myrtifolia L. and Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb, not only in the demarcated areas but in the whole territory of the EU, with the mandatory request of analysis.
• the possibility to derogate from the eradication with the application of containment measures, now limited to the Italian outbreak, is extended to the region of Corsica (France) and the Autonomous Community of Balearic Islands (Spain).