South Korea prohibits importation of radiata pines from Chile

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SEOUL.- The South Korean government informed the local Yonhap agency today that  South Korea will prohibit the importation of all radiata pines from Chile in order to prevent a recently discovered disease that is affecting the trees. 

Local authorties stated that measures are being taken to protect against Phytophthora Pinifolia, a disease that dries out the roots and needles of the pines, and can be transmitted by dirt and water.

South Korean authorities added that the wooden boards without bark will be allowed to be imported as long as they have been treated with a chemical or heat-based decontamination process.

A South Korean service official told Yohnap that the ban on the Chilean pine will apply to seeds, wood, logs and wooden boards produced from the trees.