Concerns Over Phylloxera Outbreak in the Canary Islands
The Member of Parliament for Coalición Canaria, Cristina Valido, has urged the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, to clarify in Parliament the actions the State intends to take to enhance phytosanitary controls in the Islands. This request follows the detection of phylloxera in Tenerife, which has already affected nearly thirty vineyard strains. Valido is seeking explanations from the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the threat of phylloxera in the Canaries.
The nationalist parliamentarian reminded that the Canary Islands Government recently approved urgent measures to contain the pest. However, she warned that the risk of new introductions remains if surveillance at Border Inspection Points is not reinforced. According to Valido, the root of the problem could be linked to maritime imports, highlighting deficiencies in the current control procedures.
In this regard, the MP emphasised that the lack of guarantees threatens not only the wine sector but also other key crops for the Canary Islands’ economy. She also denounced the inequality faced by local producers, who must comply with strict requirements for exports, while foreign goods enter without undergoing equivalent checks, and may even be grown using chemicals not permitted in Spain.
In addition to her request for a parliamentary appearance, Valido has submitted a series of written questions seeking information about inspection mechanisms at ports and airports, the human and material resources available at the Border Inspection Points (PIF), and the supplementary measures the Ministry is willing to implement to support the archipelago’s containment strategy. Valido continues to demand accountability from the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the phylloxera threat in the Canary Islands.
