The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), a formidable threat to tomato and pepper crops, continues to spread worldwide. In response to this growing menace, the European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2970, published on November 29, 2024. This decision marks a significant step forward in prevention and control measures, introducing updates to health regulations and revising the regulatory status of this harmful organism.
Previously classified as a quarantine pest, ToBRFV will now be designated as a non-regulated quarantine pest within the European Union, with a tolerance threshold set at 0%. This change is accompanied by a set of new requirements to ensure that seeds and plants of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and Capsicum annuum (pepper) are virus-free before being introduced into the EU.
The regulation also introduces adjustments to the frequency of official inspections. These inspections, applied to plants intended for planting, will vary depending on the country of origin, reflecting the specific health risks associated with each region. This targeted approach aims to enhance the effectiveness of controls while optimizing the use of available resources.
