EU to revise phytosanitary import restrictions for citrus

Tholen - The European Commission has taken a more firm position, through the Permanent Phytosanitary Committee, regarding a more intensive protection of the European citrus production in face of the possible introduction of quarantine diseases and plagues. One meets the demands from Spain, which had officially requested the Commission for permanent application of extraordinary measures or measures equal to the ones that were instated in 2004 for all third countries which are in the same phytosanitary conditions in which the countries concerned (amongst which Argentina and Brazil) were at that time. The Committee will therefore revise the phytosanitary import restrictions.

Spain has insisted with the EU on toughening the import requirements and European legislation to prevent the introduction of exotic citrus pests. One refers to citrus canker, black spot and exotic fruit fly species, amongst others, which all represent important risks to the citrus production. In the past the EU intercepted citrus from Argentina and Brazil at its borders, which did carry these pests. However, the Committee recently relieved the extraordinary measures for Argentinean citrus, which led to strong protests from Spain.

Publication date: March 30 2007
Author: André van der Wiel
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