WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1040/97 by Sirkka-Liisa ANTTILA to the Commission. Licences for the import into EU countries from outside the EU of fresh and sawn timber containing serious pests such as the pinewood nematode
Date: 1997-03-12
Institutions: ANTTILA, European Parliament
Subjects: Canada, import restriction, parasitology, plant disease, plant health control, plant health treatment, third country, wood product













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91997E1040

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1040/97 by Sirkka-Liisa ANTTILA to the Commission. Licences for the import into EU countries from outside the EU of fresh and sawn timber containing serious pests such as the pinewood nematode  


Official Journal C 373 , 09/12/1997 P. 0053 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-1040/97 by Sirkka-Liisa Anttila (ELDR) to the Commission (12 March 1997)Subject: Licences for the import into EU countries from outside the EU of fresh and sawn timber containing serious pests such as the pinewood nematodeThe EU is currently debating the initiative of certain Member States aimed at facilitating the import into the EU of fresh and sawn timber from non-EU countries including Canada. The import of heat-treated timber is currently permitted on the grounds that heat treatment kills the pinewood nematode, whereas the gas and chemical treatments proposed in the discussions are not sufficient to do this. In importing fresh and sawn timber it is absolutely essential to ensure that creatures such as the pinewood nematode, which has been scientifically proved to be a serious pest, do not enter the EU. This nematode does not exist in Europe, but other countries such as Canada and Japan are plagued by it.The ideal temperature for the pinewood nematode to reproduce is above 20°, which is a normal temperature precisely in the countries of Central Europe. The nematode is not killed even by freezing temperatures as low as *40°.Has nothing been learnt from the mad cow affair? I gather that Commission officials are even considering allowing the import for a trial period of non-heat-treated fresh and sawn timber from Canada, which has been proved to be an area affected by the pinewood nematode. If the nematode once enters Europe, it will stay here even after the trial period.What measures does the Commission propose taking to prevent the import from outside the EU of fresh and sawn timber containing serious pests such as the pinewood nematode?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (16 April 1997)The Commission has long been aware of the problem of the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), which is not found in the Community but listed in Council Directive 77/93/EEC ((OJ L 26, 31.1.1977. )) on protective measures against introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products, as amended. Since 1991 it has been financing joint research work with Canada to determine the heat treatment parameters for elimination of the nematode in timber before export to Europe. The requirements that have emerged are a heartwood temperature of 56°C for thirty minutes.The Commission, with the aid of a group of Community scientific experts, has analysed the plant health risk posed to the Community by the pinewood nematode and its vectors (Monochamus sp.). This has allowed other possible recommendations to be worked out, including selection of sound trees in woodland, treatment by chemical impregnation under pressure and fumigation, but these have still to be studied scientifically in depth, particularly tree selection.In response to the Honourable Member's remark on a possible trial period for imports of non-heat treated Canadian timber, no decision has yet been taken on the Canadian proposal, which is under study by the Standing Committee on Plant Health. Any proposal by the Commission would of course be scientifically based.