EU Court says Xylella trees must be chopped down

(ANSA) - Brussels, June 9 - 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.