The Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies announces that at today’s State–Regions Conference meeting, chaired by Undersecretary for Agricultural Policies Giuseppe Castiglione, favourable opinion was obtained on the decree concerning emergency measures for the prevention, control and eradication of Xylella fastidiosa on national territory.
The actions set out in the decree, approved by the National Plant Health Committee with support from the technical-scientific committee, provide an important tool for managing the phytosanitary emergency affecting Salento.
The measure specifically defines the plant health measures needed to prevent introduction and spread of the pathogen on national territory and also identifies targeted actions for the Province of Lecce.
The plant health measures in question provide for:
a) identification of “infected zones” and surrounding areas designated as “buffer zones”, in accordance with the European Commission Decision of 23 July.
In this regard, in the disease-free area north of the province of Lecce, a “buffer zone” immediately adjoining the infected area of the Province of Lecce will be established, extending from the Ionian to the Adriatic, with a depth of 2 km, as well as a further “phytosanitary cordon” of another 2 km in depth, at an appropriate distance from the first towards the north;
b) immediate start of “blanket” monitoring on the northern margins of the infected area in a strip adjoining the buffer zone, 1 km deep;
c) interventions in the “buffer zone” and “phytosanitary cordon” consisting of constant close-mesh monitoring, treatments with authorised plant protection products and agronomic measures against vector insects, removal of herbaceous host plants and uprooting of any infected plants;
d) strengthening of checks on possible presence of infection in nurseries in the infected area and strict control of movement of identified “at-risk” products, in compliance with the European Decision;
e) control plan in collaboration with the State Forestry Corps and the Anti-Fraud Inspectorate (ICQRF), especially regarding movement of “at-risk” material;
f) extension to the entire national territory of the targeted survey programme;
g) appropriate communication and information campaign.
Source: MIPAAF Press Office
