EU: new measures to prevent the spread of ToBRFV

The regulation establishes strict measures for seeds and plant material for the planting of Solanum lycopersicum L. and Capsicum spp., regardless of their origin, and for production sites that are considered virus-free. There are two exceptions to the new regulation: certain varieties of Capsicum spp. that are resistant to the virus, and plants already grown in accordance with Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1615, which is replaced by the new Regulation. 
 

For the detection and identification of the virus, real-time PCR methods are more reliable and effective than the ELISA method, the use of which is still accepted until October 1, 2020. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method widely used to rapidly make millions to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample, allowing scientists to take a very small sample of DNA and amplify it to a large enough amount to study in detail.

The new regulation says that the frequency of sampling and testing of the specified seeds and specified plants for planting should not be lower than 20 %. In the Annex, the Regulation establishes the sampling systems and the test methods to detect and identify the pest in seeds and plants for planting.

The regulation, which entered into force last Saturday, will apply until May 31, 2022.

Some complementary data
English
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R1191&from=EN
FRançais
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R1191&from=EN
Other languages:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32020R1191

Sources: fepex.es, hortidaily.com, EU Commission

Further details in attached documents:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1191 of 11 August 2020 establishing measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1615

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32020R1191

https://www.fepex.es/noticias/detalle/Virus-rugoso-tomate-ToBRFV-Comision-Europea-fitosanitario-solanum-lycopersicum-capsicum-plagas