The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the inspection services will intensify their checks from October 1st on the presence of the tobacco whitefly in the export of potted plants to the United Kingdom (UK).
In the UK, the tobacco whitefly is classified as a quarantine organism, and a zero tolerance policy is in effect. Despite this, the UK has been detecting the tobacco whitefly more frequently in shipments from the Netherlands this year compared to previous years.
The NVWA reports that the UK is conducting thorough inspections for the presence of the tobacco whitefly. Shipments containing this organism will not be allowed into the country. In 2021, the tobacco whitefly was found about sixty times, and in 2022, it was detected approximately a hundred times. As of 2023, the count is already close to ninety.
Starting from the announced date of October 1st, intensive inspections will focus on potted plants of the following species: begonia, ajuga, crossandra, hibiscus, Nerium oleander, helianthus, capsicum, Euphorbia pulcherrima, also known as poinsettia, mandevilla, also known as dipladenia, and/or Solanum pseudocapsicum. From the specified date, every batch of these species in a shipment must be inspected by the inspection services. A shipment includes a certificate and may consist of multiple batches. Additionally, a larger sample will be taken.