Majority Support for Coalición Canaria’s Motion on Phytosanitary Controls

The spokesperson for Coalición Canaria in the Spanish Parliament, Cristina Valido, has secured the majority support of the Lower House to pass her motion urging the Spanish Government to implement “immediate measures to strengthen phytosanitary controls at the ports and airports of the Canary Islands.” This initiative, structured in five points and introduced “to prevent the entry and spread of pests” in the Archipelago, was voted on item by item in the plenary session, achieving majority support for all points.

Triggering the Motion: The Threat of Phylloxera

Cristina Valido began her speech by recalling that the motion stems from her interrogation of the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, last week. She highlighted “the terrible surprise” caused by the emergence of phylloxera in Tenerife, a pest previously unseen in the Canary Islands, which has once again underscored the need to bolster border inspection points. “Pests in the Canary Islands enter through the ports and airports,” Valido emphasised.

Strengthening Controls

In the first point, which was passed almost unanimously (334 votes in favour and four abstentions), the government is urged to reinforce the border control points in compliance with the phytosanitary regulations established in the order of 1987. The second point, also supported, calls for a package of aid to assist in the control and eradication efforts of phylloxera in Tenerife, as well as compensation for the wine sector due to losses incurred from the pest.

New Phytosanitary Station in Tenerife South

The motion’s third point includes the establishment of a permanent phytosanitary station at Tenerife South Airport, which will complement the facility at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This station must have qualified personnel and adequate resources. The fourth point, passed unanimously, urges the government to implement specific support measures that ensure job stability for inspection staff, addressing the high turnover resulting from a lack of incentives. Valido remarked that many of these positions “are awarded to individuals who travel from the mainland, but they leave at the first opportunity because they lack incentives, and rent costs them nearly their entire salary.”

Awareness Campaigns

The fifth section of the motion, also backed by the majority in the plenary session, requests that the central government, alongside the Government of the Canary Islands, launch a public awareness campaign at ports and airports. This initiative aims to inform citizens and travellers about the rules and risks associated with bringing in products that could introduce pests. Valido stressed the need for “intensive campaigns” to educate the public on “what items cannot be packed in their luggage and what should not be transported, as it endangers native products and brings pests.”