Trees and plants potentially
carrying the Xylella fastidiosa disease must be chopped in order
to halt its spread, the European Court of Justice said Thursday.
The Court ruled that Brussels can force member States to
remove all plants that have been potentially infected, including
those not showing symptoms of infection, if they are close to
plants carry the disease as a precautionary measure under
EU-mandated legislation.
An outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa bacteria, which infects
trees and slowly kills them, was detected in southern Italy in
2013.
Olive farmers in Puglia have staged protests and legal
challenges against an EU-mandated cull of trees to stop the
outbreak spreading.
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