New findings of Xylella fastidiosa in Occitanie region (France)
In France, Xylella fastidiosa (EPPO A2 List) was first reported in 2015, in Corse (EPPO RS 2015/144). It currently occurs in Corse, as well as in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (RS 2016/193, 2019/187) and Occitanie regions (RS 2020/197). X. fastidiosa is under containment in Corse, and eradication measures are conducted in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Occitanie regions in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2020/1201.
In Occitanie region, X. fastidiosa had been detected for the first time in 2020 in Aude and Gard departments. As a result of the nation-wide surveillance programme, new outbreaks were reported in this region in 2022:
- In Ariège department, 2 infested zones were defined.
- In Haute-Garonne department, X. fastidiosa was first detected at the end of November 2022 in the urban area of Toulouse. The determination of the subspecies was unsuccessful.
- In Tarn department the presence of X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex was confirmed in November 2022. Following a delimiting survey at the end of 2022, 6 new infested zones were defined in addition to the 2 first ones.
In Aude department, surveys carried out since the first discovery have led to the establishment of 264 infected zones in 2022.
In Gard department, no new detections were made in 2022.
The pest status of X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex in France is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under eradication, under containment, in case eradication is impossible.
Sources
NPPO of France (2023-03).
EU (2020) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1201 of 14 August 2020 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2020/1201/2021-12-23 (consolidated text)
Maps of demarcated areas in France are available at: https://shiny-public.anses.fr/Xylella_fastidiosa/
Préfet de la Région Occitanie. Direction Régionale, de l’Alimentation de l’Agriculture et de la forêt. https://draaf.occitanie.agriculture.gouv.fr/xylella-fastidiosa-point-de-situation-en-occitanie-cropsav-du-12-12-2022-a7660.html