[REPONSE] Parlement européen, question écrite E-000923/2020 à la Commission de Daniel Buda, un virus mortel ravage les cultures de tomates de l’UE

Niveau juridique : Union européenne

Texte de la question :

« Tomato and and pepper crops in the EU Member States are currently under threat from an extremely aggressive virus. While the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is harmless to humans, it has a devastating impact on vegetable crops, including those cultivated under glass or in polytunnels. The virus can be transmitted by the infected seeds, plants or fruit or even through mere contact with an infected plant. It can also survive for long periods while remaining infectious.

No treatment has yet been found and no plant varieties are capable of resisting it. The virus manifests itself through the appearance of yellow or brown spots on leaves and deformation of vegetables and fruits, making them unsellable. Romania is also at great risk from the virus, which would have a devastating impact on its crops.

Given the destruction already wreaked by the virus on crops in several EU Member States such as Spain, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands, as well as on other countries such as Turkey, the US or China, what countermeasures will the Commission take to combat the virus and prevent it spreading to other EU Member States? »

Réponse donnée par Ms Kyriakides au nom de la Commission européenne le 24 avril 2020

« The Commission has already taken measures against the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) with Commission Implementing Decision 2019/1615, applicable from 1 November 2019.

In light of new evidence on the spread of the virus, the Commission is considering to propose the introduction of more stringent requirements for import of tomato seed, plants and fruits from third countries, as well as for internal movement.

EU grants are also available to help Member States to implement the EU eradication measures, and carry out survey activities for the whole territory under Regulation (EU) No 652/2014. Under that regulation, EU financial support for compensation to owners for the value of destroyed plants might also be available, if requested by the Member States concerned, under certain conditions. »

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