The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has announced a prohibition on the import and transit to the Canary Islands of fruits, except table grapes, and vine seeds (Vitis L. partim) from countries where phylloxera is present. The measure aims to protect Canary Islands vineyards following a request from the regional government to preserve the archipelago's wine heritage and prevent the spread of the pest.
Narvay Quintero, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands, described the decision as "an essential action to shield the Archipelago against the entry of risk elements in accordance with the phytosanitary measures for the control and eradication of this insect included in the order of the Autonomous Executive establishing immediate precautionary phytosanitary measures to prevent its spread."
The Ministerial Order implementing the restriction is expected to be published on Saturday, August 30, in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and will enter into force the following day. The regulation follows the detection of a phylloxera outbreak on the island of Tenerife, confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory for the Identification and Diagnosis of Nematodes and Phytopathogenic Arthropods.
Quintero thanked the Government of Spain for its cooperation, noting that "the result of coordinated work between the administrations and the Canary Islands wine sector, which have acted immediately, in a coordinated manner and with responsibility since the detection of the organism to control and eradicate it, for which it is essential to contain its possible advance."
The Government of the Canary Islands, together with the Cabildo of Tenerife, continues to conduct field surveys on the island to establish the extent of the outbreak. Measures include treating affected plants and providing information and awareness campaigns for producers and the public in cooperation with local administrations.
Quintero also highlighted that the Canary Islands have a special phytosanitary status recognized through the Order of March 12, 1987. This regulation establishes phytosanitary rules for the import, export, and transit of plants and plant products to and from the islands, "which we must strengthen to prevent the entry of pests."
Source: LaVoz