Spain: Campaign to raise awareness of risks involved in introduction of foreign plant material
summary：The Council of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of Andalusia is carrying out an informative campaign on the impact of introducing foreign plant materials when coming back from a holiday....
The Council of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of Andalusia is carrying out an informative campaign on the impact of introducing foreign plant materials when coming back from a holiday. The goal is to raise awareness and prevent the risks that the entry of plants or fruits from other countries entails for Spanish agriculture. The initiative will be disseminated until September through social media under the hashtag #noenmimaleta (#notinmysuitcase). It has also been included in the personalised sms notifications system and in the weekly phytosanitary bulletins.
The objective is to raise awareness about the need to protect crops from harmful organisms. Travellers, especially those visiting places outside Spain, are reminded that any plant or fruit that is purchased can be a carrier of pests, such as Xylella fastidiosa or HLB, that may be harmful to our crops. The campaign encourages tourists to just take photos of these products instead of bringing them in their suitcases to prevent the risk of introducing pests in national territory, given the circulation of certain plants that are susceptible to becoming carriers.
The Council stresses the importance of complying with the regulations in force regarding the entry (and circulation) of plants from third countries into the European Union.
Source: Government of Andalusia