First report of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in France
The pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (EPPO A2 List) is first reported from France.
The nematode was detected for the first time in November 2025 in a wood sample taken in the context of official surveys in a private forest used for wood production in the municipality of Seignosse (Landes department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region). This sample was composed of a pool of samples taken from 15 Pinus pinaster trees located within a radius of 10 metres of each other. All trees have been resampled, and analysis by the National Reference Laboratory are ongoing. A prefectoral decree was published on the 5th of November. It defines two demarcated areas (an infested zone of 500 m and a buffer zone of 20 km both centred on the infested trees), as well as measures to be applied in line with EU regulation 2012/535/EU. An intensified survey (visual examination and sampling of susceptible trees) is being conducted in the infested zone.
Communication activities have been implemented to provide information about the outbreak and associated measures.
The pest status of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in France is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of France (2025-11).
SGAR NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE - R75-2025-11-05-00001 Arrêté relatif à l’établissement d’une zone réglementée suite à la détection de Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, Nématode du Pin, dans le département des Landes. https://www.prefectures-regions.gouv.fr/nouvelle-aquitaine/irecontenu/telechargement/132434/972019/file/recueil-r75-2025-257-recueil-des-actes-administratifs.pdf
Commission Implementing Decision 2012/535/EU of 26 September 2012 on emergency measures to prevent the spread within the Union of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al. (the pine wood nematode) (notified under document C(2012) 6543). http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2012/535/2018-04-23