With Palm Sunday approaching, the Plant Health Directorate, under the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation Department, Ministry for Sustainable Development the Environment and Climate Change, said that it is emphasising the importance of obtaining palm fronds to be used on this occasion from trees which do not have any symptoms of Red Palm Weevil infestation.

In addition, the Plant Health Directorate also stresses that in accordance with the Subsidiary Legislation Number 433.24, Control of the Red Palm Weevil Regulation, pruning of palm trees cannot be carried out without prior written authorisation by the Directorate prior to cutting the fronds.

The Directorate will provide clear instructions of the place from where palm fronds are authorised to be cut, in order to avoid the further spread of the Red Palm Weevil, as has been the case in the past. This weevil is capable of flying long distances and destroying palm trees in a very short time.

The palm trees from which fronds are cut shall be sprayed with an appropriate insecticide following pruning, in accordance with the guidelines issued under Government Notice 564 of 2011. This treatment should be applied for three consecutive times in order to give the tree the best possible protection against the weevil.

The fronds should be cut as small as possible in order to reduce parts which may become infected, which are generally concentrated at the lower part of the fronds. The base from where the frond was cut should be covered with an appropriate pruning paste. This is to avoid further attraction of adult weevils to the freshly cut site, which the female will use to deposit her eggs.

All palms to be pruned must be registered with the Plant Health Directorate. In Gozo, in agreement with the Ministry for Gozo, fronds to be used for Palm Sunday must be cut only from authorised places under the supervision of the Afforestation and Public Gardens Section. For further information, one may contact the Villa Rundle Office on 22156983/982.

In order to keep the Red Palm Weevil infestation under control, the Plant Health Directorate asks for the co-operation of the public, so that these traditions may continue for further generations to come.

For more information and guidelines and to request authorisation for pruning, one may contact the Customer Care office of the Plant Health Directorate on freephone number 80072310 or on 22927103.

Information can also be obtained by e-mail to plantquarantine@gov.mt or visit the website www.planthealth.gov.mt.

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