world news - 11.12.2008
The EU and Sweden in debate concerning the pine wood nematode
EU and Sweden have different opinions concerning the necessity of
regulating unmarked packing crates from Portugal. The Union says that
the Swedish requirement that all unmarked packing crates from Portugal
must be reported and destroyed is excessive when new rules are to be
established.
The Commission has imposed prohibitions of exports of saplings and
wooden products from Portugal. The only exception is when the
authorities can ensure that the goods are not contaminated by the pine
wood nematode.
Ms Karin Nordin, head of the plant inspection department at the Swedish
Board of Agriculture, is glad that the EU Commission has now taken a
stricter position in the nematode question. Despite discoveries in
Spain, Finland and Sweden of pine wood nematodes in wooden packing
crates the Commission has made a risk analysis different from that made
by Sweden, which attaches more importance to forest protection, says
Nordin.
The Swedish decision to impose advance reporting of packing crates was
made when nematodes were discovered in 10 % of all wooden crates
inspected by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
The Board says that the Commission has now taken a stricter position
and that it is more on the same lines as Sweden. However, the
difference is that in the Commission's opinion only unmarked wooden
crates made in Portugal must be destroyed. Ms Nordin says that we must
now continue our work to ensure that only controlled wooden crates will
be used in business.
See also:
- — The EU and Sweden in debate concerning the pine wood nematode
- — Finnish forest owners active in tending young forests
- — Slower development of the roofing materials market in Poland
- — Finns Keep Lumber Duty Level
- — Forestry revenues plunge in British Columbia, Canada
