Why do plants have to undergo a control ?
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In Reunion, 37 000 persons live directly from agriculture. Crop pests are real « agricultural calamities ». The best way to prevent those risks is to control the importation of plants as soon as they arrive in Reunion by submitting them to observations and analyses.
| In 1972, the white worm , a maybug from Madagascar was introduced by mistake. Its destructions were catastrophic : 600 000 € of losses for the sugarcane industry. In 1997, a virus specific to the tomato, the tomato yellow leaf curl, was introduced in Reunion. This disease attacked the plantations of market gardeners ad some of them have lost al their production. |
The control of plants introduced in Reunion wants therefore to protect the environment. Reunion hosts tropical insular eco-systems particularly fragile and unique in the world. Some plant species can adapt themselves to a new environment, become invasive and then be a threat.
| In 1846, the Savage Grape, was introduced from southeast Asia. This plant is a bramble that can reach 12 metres long and choke indigenous vegetation. Result : The ONF invests each year around 120 000 € to control those plant pests. |
This is why, in Reunion, all plants and plant products of all origins (France included) are submitted t phytosanitary control a importation (Order of the 3rd September 1990 modified).
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