Bermuda is threatening to cancel imports of bulbs from Holland this year in a row over testing for a potentially devastating microscopic worm which could cause widespread disease to plants on the Island.

The Dutch authorities test for the nematode worm, but they are refusing to provide the Island with the results, said Director of Agriculture and Fisheries John Barnes.

Bermuda may have to look to the United States for alternative supplies of the bulbs if the dispute is not resolved, but it was difficult to predict if there will be a shortage, he said.

Mr. Barnes said Bermuda imports around 150,000 bulbs each year from Holland for flowers such as irises, gladioli and fresias, but this is a tiny fraction of the amount exported worldwide by the Dutch authorities.

Holland may feel it is not worth the bother to provide test results to such a small market as Bermuda, said Mr. Barnes.

“They do the testing but they will not furnish us with the results. Some of these places are certified as nematode-free, but no one has gone to look for it,” Mr. Barnes told The Royal Gazette on Monday.

“These things move around and they've just assumed it isn't there. It's important for Bermuda, but in the scale of things for Holland, which has a billion dollar bulb market, it's probably not worth it for them.

“It's something we're trying to resolve. It came to us at short notice and we're working with the Dutch authorities to find a solution. We're trying to avert anything like that (a shortage) but it's hard to predict. We are working with the importers, exporters and Dutch authorities.

“It's early days, but we get the impression that we're talking at cross-purposes _ that they're not hearing what we're saying. Someone may have to go over there and sit down with them and say this is what we want.”

Describing the effect of the worm, Mr. Barnes said: “It can cause a lot of plant disease. It's not specific about what it invades. It lives in the soil, so once it gets here its hard to get rid of. It can spread and spread and spread into grass and trees and plants, so it has the potential to be quite widespread.”