It’s a figure that worries the entire European citrus-growing sector: from January to August 2023, European customs intercepted 33 consignments of citrus fruit from South Africa carrying black spot disease (Phyllotactic Citricarpa). At the same time four interceptions reported the presence of false codling moth (Thaumatotibia Leucotreta) in mandarins and grapefruits also coming from South Africa and Israel. These pests pose a considerable risk to all European production and should prompt the European authorities to take even more far-reaching action.
The phenomenon is well known, and so are the risks involved. For years now, the reported figures for interceptions of citrus fruit batches carrying parasites that could contaminate European orchards, particularly from South Africa, have shown little or no decline. There are around 600,000 hectares of citrus in the EU. The whole economy of many regions depends on the citrus supply chain. If these diseases come into the EU, it will be a disaster, not only for producers but also for whole supply chains and it will put the supply of citrus for consumers at risk.
For Ramon Armengol, Cogeca President, the situation is clear, “We are in favour of free trade, but we don’t want to import pests into the EU that have the potential to destroy all of our orchards. The European Commission puts in place measures to encourage cold treatment for imports of oranges, but this should become compulsory for mandarin and grapefruit imports as recommended by EFSA.”
To combat black spots, Ramon Armengol added, “We regret some measures already put in place by the EU such as allowing citrus imports with black spot disease to go to the industry. This is very risky and dangerous considering that once the infected citrus is in the EU nothing avoids it from travelling further into the European internal market.”
For Copa and Cogeca, the voluntary measure taken by South Africa of stopping exports to the EU once they have finished the export season is useless as exporters don’t have any more citrus to ship. This is the seventh time South Africa has put this measure in place that culminates in useless effects as previously seen. This measure is only implemented to avoid stricter actions by the EU. The Commission should not be fooled and should take swift action to protect European plant health.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
