The health agency Anses calls for strengthening surveillance, particularly in ports, to avoid the establishment in France of the oriental fruit fly, “one of the most damaging pests” for many fruit and vegetable productions, in an opinion published Thursday.
“In order to detect any outbreak of infestation as quickly as possible”, ANSES “recommends strengthening surveillance of imported goods and crops in the Mediterranean zone near ports and airports”.
🪰 Oriental fruit fly, a pest for many fruits and vegetables 🍠 pic.twitter.com/sOhlNOnTwT
— Anses (@Anses_fr) March 28, 2024
“High probability of entry” into France of the insect
This fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is one of the 20 harmful organisms leading to quarantines “classified as priorities for the European Union”. “Several outbreaks of infestation have been declared in Italy” and if “no outbreak has been declared in mainland France”, there is today “a high probability of entry” into mainland France of this insect, according to the agency sanitary.
Although it poses no danger to humans, the oriental fruit fly can decimate production.
Originally from Asia, Bactrocera dorsalis is now present in a large part of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. This fly, which can develop in “more than 500 host species of plants”, feeds in particular on mangoes, citrus fruits, peaches, plums, apricots, grapes, avocados and tomatoes.
“The female lays her eggs under the skin of the fruit, the larvae which emerge then feed on the pulp, thus causing deterioration of the flesh of the fruit which can lead to its total destruction,” indicates ANSES.
Strengthen inspections on risky goods
In France, Bactrocera dorsalis “is the subject of a national emergency health intervention plan (PNISU), which involves the implementation of control measures in the event of an outbreak such as insecticide treatments, trapping of individuals males to limit their reproduction and restrictions on the circulation of plant material.
The most likely route of entry being that of the commercial importation of fruits and vegetables from infested countries, ANSES “recommends reinforcing inspections on the goods most at risk, especially if they are not covered by mandatory controls under current regulations, such as passion fruit and avocados for example.”
At the end of 2015, the detection of this fly in Florida led to a declaration of "agricultural emergency" and the establishment of a quarantine (with a ban on harvesting) on 250 km2 of cultivated land, until its eradication was announced in February. 2016.