Tomato brown streak virus ToBRFV again provoked the concerns of the Bulgarian Association of Greenhouse Production Producers (BAPOP), that the phytosanitary authorities do not promptly inform the greenhouse producers about the situation in the country.
Although not yet declared a quarantine pest, ToBRFV is highly contagious and difficult to eradicate, and can devastate any tomato grower’s business. This is especially true for greenhouse production, which does not have the freedom to leave a particular contaminated field and move to another.
Tomato brown streak virus disease has been in Bulgaria for years and although the scale of its manifestations is not large for now, BAPOP wants to know if MZH and BABH are doing what is necessary to preserve the greenhouse production in our country and the vegetable business in general.
In this regard, BAPOP sent today a letter to the Minister of Agriculture Kiril Vatev and his deputy Alexander Yotsev with 5 important questions. The letter was signed by the chairman of the Board of Directors, Yordan Krastanov, who is also a deputy in the current National Assembly.
Here is the letter:
TO
MR KYRILL VATEV
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
COPY: MR. ALEXANDER YOTSEV
DEPUTY MINISTER
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
REGARDING: Prevention of the spread of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) by seeds, plant material and fruits of Solanum lycopersicum L. species and its hybrids, and of Capsicum spp. on the territory of the country
DEAR MINISTER,
We would like to receive the following information from the Bulgarian Association of Greenhouse Producers (BAPOP).
In connection with an established outbreak of ToBRFV on tomato plants in the area of the town of Petrich and the town of Sandanski in 2023 as a result of inspections by the BABH under the Program “Monitoring of quarantine pests on vegetable crops in greenhouses and outdoors” , as well as in relation to information about infected more than 30% of tomato plantations in the region of Laconia, Greece, confirmed by the Benakeio Phytopathological Institute and the Directorate of Agricultural Economics and Veterinary Medicine of Laconia as part of the official virus confirmation process, please for answers to the following questions:
1. Has information been submitted to the Commission and the other member states about the results of the observations from the past year 2023 in accordance with Regulation 2023/1032, Art. 5, paragraph 3, whose deadline is until April 30, and if such information is submitted, what is it?
2. Were samples taken for 2024 for the presence of ToBRFV according to the official control in the country and if and if such samples were taken, what were the results?
3. Has ToBRFV been sampled so far according to the official control at the border posts (implementing Regulation 2023/1032, where it is stated that the competent authority samples and tests at least 20% of the consignments of the specified seeds and the specified plants for planting , and for consignments of specified seeds and specified plants for planting originating from Israel and China the percentage of sampling and testing is 50% and 100% respectively ) and if such samples were taken what were the results?
4. In the past year 2023, there were established outbreaks of infected tomato plants in the regions of the town of Petrich and the town of Sandanski as a result of inspections by the competent authority BABH, as well as an outbreak of infected tomato plants in the region of Laconia in the southern neighbor. We would like you to inform us of the results of the risk analysis regarding this virus made on this basis. In this regard, are additional measures necessary for the import of fruits of the species Solanum lycopersicum L. and its hybrids, and of Capsicum spp., and is it imperative to carry out enhanced phytosanitary control at border checkpoints?
5. Is there a list of resistant cultivars of the species Solanum lycopersicum L. and its hybrids, and of Capsicum spp. according to Art. 6, para. 1 and Art. 8, para. 5 of Regulation 2023/1032 establishing measures to prevent the introduction and spread on the territory of the Union of the tomato brown streak virus (ToBRFV), where says that “Member States shall communicate to the Commission and the other Member States a list of these resistant varieties and shall update it regularly.“
Our questions are aimed at exchanging information and applying timely preventive phytosanitary measures in case of danger or in the case of an already established pest infestation and protection of agricultural crops.
Sincerely: Yordan Krastanov, Chairman of the Management Board
Read more: 6 tips to stop ToBRFV from spreading
Ch. Assistant Professor G. Pasev, “Maritsa” IZK: The ToBRFV virus in tomatoes is stable, spreads easily, and is difficult to destroy
Tomato brown streak virus (ToBRFV) can now be fought with a resistant variety
Ministry of Health: The ToBRFV virus on tomatoes and pepper is under special monitoring by the BFSA
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