The European Union is introducing stricter measures to combat red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), a harmful insect not native to Europe that can attack a wide range of palm trees, including date, coconut and areca palms. The insect was introduced to the EU through imports of palm plants. The insect has been found in all Mediterranean Member States (Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain), causing concerns about the future of palms in these areas. The Commission first adopted emergency measures to control the entry and spread of the insect in May 2007.

The Standing Committee on Plant Health (SCPH) voted last Friday in favour of a Commission proposal to strengthen the measures. The vote follows the direction of a conference in Valencia, Spain, organised by the Commission and the Spanish Presidency in May 2010. The conference focused on reinforcing the EU strategy for red palm weevil control and eradication given the possible devastating effects that it may have. According to the new measures, palms imported from third countries, where the insect is present, will have to be held for one year under complete physical protection in order for the authorities to detect possible latent infestation. Furthermore, affected Member States are now obliged to combine several measures in order to contain and eradicate the insect.

The measures include intensive inspections to find the beetle, destruction of heavily infested palm plants and insecticide treatments. Affected Member States also have to establish action plans within strict time limits that would clearly describe the measures to be taken and the time periods within which they are to be completed. Following newly available research, the revised decision also allows for the use of sanitation techniques whenever saving palm trees would be a possible alternative to their destruction.

This has been successfully already applied in some Member States and can help Member States gain public support for the eradication campaigns. Public support is crucial for a successful outcome of the eradication effort. Additionally, Member States can receive the Commission’s financial assistance in their eradication campaigns against red palm weevil.

For more information on the Community plant health regime, please see: http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/organisms/index_en.htm

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