RESOLUTION VITI 4/94

CONTROLLING ESCA

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

BASED ON the proposai of Commission I “Viticulture ” taking into account the work of the Expert Group “Diseases, Pests and Protection of the Vine ”,

DECLARING the worldwide spread and recrudescence of the vine disease called “ESCA ”, caused by a complex of several parasitic fungi that develops in the trunk of the vine: Stereum hirsutum and Phellinus ignarius preceded by Phialophora parasitica and Cephalosporium sp. or Eutypa lata,

DECLARING the major damage that this desease causes to grape growing héritage,

DECLARING that there exists today no certain method of control other than the use of sodium arsenite as a dormant treatment, used for more than a century,

DECLARING that certain countries permit the use of this product while others oppose it,

DECLARING that there is no residues on the grapes and in the wine,

DECLARING that the respect of rules for use in the vineyard permits the avoidance of risks for the user and the environment,

ENCOURAGES research on the problem and accepts, pending new methods of prévention, the rigorous use of sodium arsenite linked to animal repellent products, against parasistes of “ESCA ” disease,

RECOMMENDS to ail user countries to follow the hereafter précautions: winter spraying, in good weather, of the trunk and arms of the grape plant from eight days after pruning by means of a spray apparatus furnished with recovery traps which avoids residues in the environment.

Director General’s Remark:

3 countries voted against this Resolution because of a ban by their national législation on the use of sodium arsenite. One country (USA) abstained from voting for the same reason. Acceptance of this Resolution by majority at the General Assembly does not imply a modification of these national législations but does nevertheless imply the acceptance of products originated from coun­ tries authorising this treatment. Current knowledge shows this anti-pest treatment to be alone in prévention of ESCA. This is why the OIV has fixed quite spécifie conditions for use with guar- anteed innocuity for both vine products thus treated and the environment.