Canarian Government to Amend Phytosanitary Regulations for Grapevine Phylloxera
The Government of the Canary Islands has announced plans to begin work on amending phytosanitary regulations regarding grapevine phylloxera, aiming to ease the measures ahead of the upcoming grape harvest. This decision follows the conclusion of the second round of inspections conducted across the islands, which identified only four new positive cases, all located in Tenerife and within the already designated area, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty.
Inspection Results
The regional government has indicated that the new cases were detected between April and May on abandoned farms situated in the so-called “ground zero” of the Protected Denomination of Origin Tacoronte-Acentejo. Affected materials were treated and removed, as previously highlighted by Atlántico Hoy.
Opening the Door for Changes
Narvay Quintero, head of the Primary Sector department in the Canarian government, explained during a technical meeting on the pest that the absence of positive cases outside the designated area and the current control situation allow for the possibility of changes to the Order of 20 August 2025. This regulation declares the fight against phylloxera as of public utility in the Canary Islands and sets urgent measures for its control and eradication.
Quintero emphasised that the previous grape harvest was “very tough for vine growers” due to the restrictions imposed. However, he defended that strict control measures helped contain the pest during a period of uncertainty. The intention now is to adapt the regulations to the current situation “without abandoning surveillance measures.”
Statistics
The Ministry has reported that a total of 9,610 inspections have been conducted in the Canary Islands to date. Of these, 1,831 took place this year, resulting in four positive cases, while 7,779 inspections were carried out in 2025, leading to 89 positive cases. All identified cases have been in Tenerife.
In terms of inspections by island this year:
- Tenerife: 1,054
- Lanzarote: 346
- La Palma: 142
- Gran Canaria: 110
- El Hierro: 71
- Fuerteventura: 67
- La Gomera: 41
Tenerife remains the only island with the presence of phylloxera.
