The spokesperson for Coalición Canaria in Congress, Cristina Valido, has requested the appearance of the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, to explain in parliamentary sessions what measures the state plans to implement to strengthen phytosanitary controls at Canary Islands’ ports and airports, in order to prevent pests such as the phylloxera detected in Tenerife. In her parliamentary initiative, Valido highlights the alarm within the quality wine sector following the confirmation of nearly 30 affected vines by this pest, which has prompted the Government of the Canary Islands to approve urgent measures for its control and eradication.
Urgent Measures Requested
Among these measures, the regional government has requested an enhancement of controls at the Border Inspection Points (PIF), as the Ministry of Agriculture has indicated that the pest may be linked to imports arriving by sea. According to Valido, this suggests that there are “deficiencies” in the entry controls for goods at the islands’ ports and airports.
Risk to Key Crops
The nationalist spokesperson has warned that this situation increases the risk of pest invasions affecting strategic crops for the Canary economy. She emphasised that “while our local products must overcome multiple obstacles for export, goods from third countries, sometimes produced with substances banned in Spain, continue to arrive without undergoing equivalent controls.” Valido has pointed out that this highlights “a well-known problem in the Canary Islands.”
Further Inquiries Made
In light of this issue, in addition to her request for the minister’s appearance, Valido has submitted a written question to the Ministry asking about the current phytosanitary inspection controls at the Canary Islands’ ports and airports to prevent the entry of pests and invasive species.
Additionally, she has inquired about the human and material resources allocated to inspection duties at the PIF, and what further measures the Ministry plans to implement “to support the actions of the Canary Islands against phylloxera and other pests.”
