11 new ToBRFV infections in the Netherlands

The Netherlands currently officially has 57 companies infected with Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV). Compared to the previous overview from June 2022, 11 new locations were found to be infected. 3 locations were released by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Cultivation activities were changed for 1 company site.

New in the NVWA update listing the numbers of infections per municipality are the municipalities of Kampen and Venlo. The municipality of Voorne aan Zee is also new, but this is a merger municipality of Brielle, Hellevoetsluis, and Westvoorne. ToBRFV infections had already been reported in two of the three municipalities during the last update in February 2023. The municipalities of Peel and Maas and Maashorst, both still accounting for one infection in February, are now no longer on the list.

Below are the number of infections (with the change number compared to January 2023 in brackets) and the municipality.

• Westland 20 (+1)
• Hollands Kroon 6
• Reimerswaal 2
• Haarlemmermeer 1
• Horst aan de Maas 1
• Goeree-Overflakkee 1
• Voorne aan Zee 6 (+1)
• Steenbergen 3
• Zuidplas 1
• Noordoostpolder 1
• Midden-Delfland 4
• Pijnacker-Nootdorp 1
• Waadhoeke 2
• Heusden 3 (+2)
• Lansingerland 3 (+3)
• Kampen 1 (+1)
• Venlo 1 (+1)

Since mid-2019, a total of 76 cultivation sites and 1 seed production and breeding site have been identified with the virus. A total of 20 sites have been released. At 5 of these locations, there has been a new infection. At five locations, there was a switch to another crop. A total of 57 locations are currently under surveillance by the NVWA due to infection with ToBRFV.

Q status
ToBRFV is subject to a quarantine status and reporting obligation in a European context. Because the virus continues to spread including worldwide, this status was under discussion. The Netherlands called for an adjustment of the current Q status.

An adjustment of the virus status to a Regulated Non-Quarantine Pests (RNQP) status, which would provide more opportunities for proper research into resistances, among other things, did not materialize. Emergency measures in the European Union (EU) against the further spread of the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) were extended this spring until December 2024. The EU Plant Health Committee determined that.