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Food, Farming, Fisheries
Food Safety

Latest Developments of Xylella fastidiosa in the EU territory

Xylella fastidiosa is regularly discussed with the relevant authorities in EU member countries at the monthly meetings of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (plant health section).

PAFF Committees - Plant Health meeting reports

Italy

Apulia

Outbreaks

October 2013 – the Italian authorities notified the Commission of the first outbreak of X. fastidiosa subspecies pauca in the south of Apulia (Province of Lecce).

May 2015 – the infected zone was declared an area under containment, as the pest is considered to be established and eradication is no longer feasible. Since then, the demarcated area has been updated on several occasions to address the spread of the pest to the neighbouring provinces of Taranto and Brindisi.

June 2018 – the Commission adopted Decision (EU) 2018/927, extending the demarcated area by 20 km, towards the north of the region.

October 2020 – the Italian authorities notified the Commission of two new outbreaks of X. fastidiosa subspecies pauca in Canosa di Puglia and in Monopoli. The new demarcated areas are based on Regulation (EU) 2020/1201.

January 2022 – Canosa di Puglia: Outbreak closed.

Host plants

Due to its wide presence, the main host plants are olive trees, although other host plants are also infected. No infections have been confirmed so far on Vitis and Citrus.

EU measures

The infected zone is under containment. Movement of specified plants out of demarcated area is only authorised for a limited number of nurseries, under very strict EU controls.

Tuscany

Outbreaks

December 2018 – the Italian authorities notified the Commission of the first outbreak of X. fastidiosa subspecies multiplex in Tuscany (Monte Argentario) (see demarcated area).

Lazio

November 2021 – the Italian authorities notified the Commission of the first outbreak of X. fastidiosa subspecies multiplex in Lazio (Municipality of Canino, 30-50 Km from Monte Argentario).

Host plants

The main host plants detected are typical for the Mediterranean area, such as Spartium junceum, Polygala myrtifolia, almond, rosemary, lavender, common myrtle and figs.

EU measures

Eradication measures are being taken. Movement of specified plants out of that area is currently not authorised.

France

Corsica and PACA, Occitanie

Outbreaks

July 2015 – the French authorities notified the Commission of the first outbreak of X. fastidiosa subspecies multiplex in Corsica. Since then, the same subspecies has been also detected in PACA (departments: Var and Alpes-Maritimes) and in September 2020 in Occitanie (department: Aude) (see demarcated areas for PACA and Occitanie).

In one isolated outbreak in PACA (Menton), the presence of X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca has been detected.

December 2017 – the entire territory of Corsica was declared an area under containment, as the pest is considered to be established and eradication is no longer feasible.

Host plants

Ornamental plants typical for the Mediterranean area, such as Polygala myrtifolia, rosemary, lavender, as well as olive and almonds have been detected as host plants. In the recent outbreak in Occitanie, hybrids of lavender, as well as the lavender of Afghanistan and the sage of Jerusalem have been detected as infected.

EU measures

Eradication measures are being taken in PACA and in Occitanie, while the entire territory of Corsica is under containment. Movement of specified plants out of those areas is currently not authorised.

Portugal

Porto

Outbreaks

January 2019 – the Portuguese authorities notified the Commission of the first outbreak of X. fastidiosa subspecies multiplex in Porto (see demarcated areas).

Lisbon and Algarve

August 2021 - the Portuguese authorities notified the Commission of two new outbreaks of X. fastidiosa in the Lisbon area and in the Algarve area. The subspecies has not been identified in the two samples that were at the origin of the notifications, but further samples are being tested (see demarcated areas for Lisbon).

September 2022 – Algarve: Outbreak closed, pest eradicated

Host plants

Results collected so far confirm the presence of the pest on host plants typical for the Mediterranean area, such as asparagus, lavender, olive, Quercus suber, rosemary, Artemisia arborescens, Coprosma repens, Vinca major, Myrtus communis and Ulex minor.

EU measures

Eradication measures are being taken. Movement of specified plants out of the demarcated area is currently not authorised.

Spain

Baleares

Outbreaks

October 2016 – the Spanish authorities notified the Commission of the first outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa subspecies fastidiosa in Mallorca.

Since then, various outbreaks have been detected in the Baleares, leading to the detection of different subspecies:

  • X. fastidiosa subspecies fastidiosa (Mallorca)

  • X. fastidiosa subspecies multiplex (Mallorca and Menorca)

  • X. fastidiosa subspecies pauca (Ibiza).

Host plants

Mainly wild and cultivated olive trees, vines and almond trees.

EU measures

Because X. fastidiosa is considered to be established on the islands, the entire territory of Baleares was declared an area under containment on 14 December 2017 (see demarcated area).

Movement of specified plants out of the Baleares is currently not authorised.

Alicante

Outbreaks

June 2017 – the Spanish authorities notified the presence of X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex in Alicante (Autonomous Region of Valencia).

Host plants

Almond plants are the main host plants found infected, together with other host plants typical of the Mediterranean area such as rosemary, myrtle-leaf milkwort, Helichrysum italicum and other few spontaneous plants.

No infections have been detected so far on olive trees in the demarcated area.

EU measures

Eradication measures are being taken. Movement of specified plants out of the demarcated area is currently not authorised.

Madrid

Outbreaks

April 2018 – the Spanish authorities also notified the Commission of the presence of X. fastidiosa susp. multiplex on one olive plant in open field, on the Spanish mainland, in the Autonomous Region of Madrid.

June 2022 – Outbreak closed

EU measures

Eradication measures are being taken. Movement of specified plants out of the demarcated area is currently not authorised.

Rest of EU territory

All EU countries carry out annual surveys for the presence of Xylella fastidiosa on their territory, taking into account the list of specified plants.

Any positive finding is reported to the Commission and all other EU countries no later than 8 working days after Xylella fastidiosa is confirmed as present.

Based on these surveys, EU territory is currently considered free of Xylella fastidiosa, except for the officially demarcated areas.

For detailed figures in Member States with outbreaks, please refer to the audit reports of DG SANTE Directorate F audits and Analysis.