Press Release: EU’s plant health to be strengthened and better protected through new legislation

Over the past few years, globalisation and climate change have increased the challenges the EU faces in preventing the entry and spread of non-native plant pests in its territory. Red Palm Weevil is devastating palm trees in Mediterranean Member States, outbreaks of Pine Wood Nematode in Portugal are threatening millions of hectares of coniferous forest in southern Europe and the long-horned beetle, which arrived from Asia, is endangering broad-leaved trees, such as maple, citrus and apple trees and birches, beeches and willows. Severe problems caused by non-native harmful pests have always existed.

European Commission: Memo/10/453: Questions and answers on the review of the EU plant health regime http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/453&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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