Proliferation of non-European insects: Italian fruit and vegetable production at risk. Appeal for Commission intervention

5.10.2018

Question for written answer E-005092-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Mara Bizzotto (ENF)

The rise in autumn temperatures in Italy over the last few years has encouraged the proliferation of insects from non-European countries. These insects are now causing serious damage to fruit and vegetable production.

According to reports from the Coldiretti association, the dryocosmus kuriphilus Chinese chestnut gall wasp is harming the growth of chestnuts and the aethina tumida small hive beetle is putting the production of Italian-made honey at risk. Similarly, cherries, bilberries and grapes in Veneto have been decimated by the drosophila suzukii fruit fly, while apple and pear trees in Emilia have been affected by the erwinia amylovora bacterium.

In addition, Confagricoltura has reported that the brown marmorated stink bug (halyomorpha halys) is causing terrible damage to the production of honey (with losses of up to 50% in the province of Padua), pears (up to 40% in the province of Treviso), kiwi fruit, peaches, corn and soya across the whole of Veneto.

Considering the fact that these harmful insects proliferate rapidly, since they have no natural enemies in Italy, and that the majority arrive in Europe through imports of food products from third countries, can the Commission state how it intends to reinforce the checks on food imports into the EU?

What other measures does it intend to adopt to protect Italian-produced fruit and vegetables from the spread of these insects?

Does it intend to define extraordinary compensation measures for farmers suffering huge losses?