So far this season, the NVWA (Dutch Food and Consumer Authority) has received seven reports of possible clavibacter contamination affecting tomato companies. A spokesperson said that five actual bacterial disease infections have been confirmed and two other companies are still under investigation.
Trace analyses
For all reports, the trace analyses conducted by NVWA to the source of the infections has yielded no results. No connection has been found either between the different companies and the origin of the seed. Tomato Growers must remove infected and potentially infected plants from the greenhouse and hygiene regulations will be toughened for the companies.
Quarantine
In the European Union, the clavibacter has a quarantine status.