WRITTEN QUESTION P-1723/01

by Willi Görlach (PSE) to the Commission

(6 June 2001)

Subject: Threat posed to European vine growing by phylloxera

Grape phylloxera (Phylloxera, Dactylasphaera vitifoliae or Viteus vitifolii) is a vine pest which, in the previous century, caused huge devastation to European vineyards.

How does the Commission assess the current threat to the European vine growing sector from phylloxera?

What is the Commission's view of the preventive management measures taken by individual EU Member States to combat phylloxera?

Does the Commission recommend the use of carbon disulphide to combat phylloxera?

How effective, in the Commission's view, is the Bayer AG product Confidor against the leaf galling form of phylloxera?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2001)

The Grapevine phylloxera, Daktulosphairas vitifoliae (Fitch), has for principal hosts the plants of the genus Vitis L. It is present in the following Member States: Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Portugal and United Kingdom. The Community legislation recognises this insect as being a harmful organism whose introduction into, and spread within, all Member States shall be banned if it is present on plants of Vitis L., other than fruit and seeds. Therefore, it is listed under point 2 of Annex II, Part A, Section II to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community ((1)), as last amended by Commission directive 2001/33/EC of 8 May 2001((2)).

The Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General, has among its responsibilities the control of the harmonised implementation of the Community legislation in the plant health field. Within the framework of this mandate, FVO officials regularly carry out missions in the Member States. Moreover, since 1996, Member States have not notified the Commission of any interception of Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) on plants of Vitis L. produced in the Community.

The use of plant protection products in the Community is regulated by Council Directive 91/414/EC of 15 July 1991, on the placing of plant protection products on the market ((3)). Under the Directive, the Commission is responsible for assessing the safety of the active ingredients used in such products and the Member States are responsible, at national level, for evaluating and authorising the products themselves. In so doing, the Member States have the competence to regulate the conditions of use. The active substance carbon sulphide has not yet been evaluated at Community level and it is not within the competence of the Commission to issue recommendations on its use. Imidacloprid, which is the active substance in the product Confidor, is currently being evaluated by the Commission and the Member States. Until the evaluation of the active substance is complete, the Commission cannot judge the efficacy of the product and it would, in any case, be the Member States that would have the responsibility of evaluating the product.

(1) OJ L 169, 10.7.2000.

(2) OJ L 127, 9.5.2001.

(3) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.