Emerald ash borer and Xylella fastidiosa — both threats to olive trees — are two of the 20 quarantine pests that have been highlighted as top priorities for E.U. member states on the list of priority pests that was released last week.
The list forms part of the European Commission’s strategies to protect Europe from these pests. Member states are required to compile annual surveys, create current contingency plans, communicate with the public and introduce eradication plans for each of these threats.
The compilation of the E.U.’s umbrella list of quarantine pests is one of the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 — known as the Plant Health Law — which comes into effect on December 14 this year.
Under the new law, all plants and living parts of plants that enter the E.U. require a phytosanitary certificate.
Certain fruits listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2018 of 18 December 2018 are not required to have a phytosanitary certificate. These fruits include pineapples, coconuts, durians, bananas and dates, but not olives.
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