The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has indications that some Dutch tomato growers are deliberately infecting plants with a 'mild variant' of ToBRFV. In this way, growers try to limit the damage of aggressive virus variants. This so-called cross-protection is not permitted. The virus has quarantine status in the European Union. It is therefore mandatory to prevent the introduction and spread of ToBRFV. The NVWA therefore urges tomato growers not to use cross-protection against ToBRFV.
Possession or propagation of ToBRFV is not permitted in the EU. A suspected spreading or presence of ToBRFV must be reported immediately to the NVWA. A criminal investigation is therefore underway against the suspected supplier of a cross-protection agent. In September, two companies and a house were searched in the context of this investigation. There is still insufficient insight into whether this variant is actually mild under different circumstances. The NVWA has information that there are companies where serious symptoms do occur.
Problems for others
Applying cross-protection may also cause problems for other companies, warns the authority. ToBRFV is highly infectious and can easily be transferred to host plants through contact. The NVWA has indications that the illegally introduced variant has naturally spread to several other growers. For growers where this variant is found, the same measures are imposed as for companies where other variants of ToBRFV are found, regardless of the source. If there are indications of intentional contamination, a criminal investigation may follow.
According to the latest figures, published on 15 February 2022, the Netherlands has 38 infections with ToBRFV.
Source: NVWA
