Bacteria causes concern over kiwi fruit production in Europe

Emergency measures proposed by the European Commission to tackle a harmful bacteria that attacks kiwi plant species were endorsed Monday by the EU Standing Committee on Plant Health (SCPH). The kiwi fruit canker pathogen (Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae) is a plant disease which does not affect public health but attacks kiwi plants causing high losses to kiwi fruit production, the EU's executive body said in a statement. This disease has been observed in some southern European countries, notably France, Italy, Portugal and Spain causing concern over the future of kiwi fruit production, it noted. Italy is the biggest global producer of kiwi fruit with 416,000 tonnes in 2010 and France, Spain, and Greece (which is so far free from the bacterium), rank amongst the world's top 10 producers of kiwi fruit. The new EU measures require that kiwi plants and pollen for pollination of kiwi's needs to come from countries or areas that are either bacteria free or that comply with strict requirements to protect against the spread of this disease. The measures will not apply to the trade of kiwi fruit as the bacteria is not transmitted through the fruit, added the statement.