For the first time, the European Commission is open to requiring cold treatment for all imported citrus fruits that present a pest risk; a measure that the Valencian agricultural sector has requested for a long time to prevent the entry of diseases and to guarantee reciprocity in trade relations. This requirement, which was initially applied exclusively to oranges from South Africa in 2022 after the pressure exerted by European producers due to the interceptions of false moth in orange shipments, could now be extended to mandarins and grapefruits, as well as imports from other regions with pest alerts such as Israel, Zimbabwe, and Morocco.
EU Agriculture Commissioner, Janusz Wojciechowski, informed Carlos Mazón, president of the Generalitat Valenciana, about this potential expansion. The proposal will be presented in the Commission's plenary session and is marked by the upcoming European elections on June 9 and its adoption will depend on the next European Commission. However, this announcement represents a significant advance in the Valencian agricultural sector's historical demand.
Agricultural organizations have welcomed the news of the possible application of this phytosanitary protocol to all citrus imports from countries with quarantine pests, and underline its importance to protect the plant safety of local production.
The need for cold treatment has become evident with the recent interceptions of fruit affected by false moths from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Israel, and Morocco. The application of this protocol on South African oranges has already proven its effectiveness, with a decrease in imports to Europe. However, the Valencian sector has expressed concerns about the proper application of these measures by South African exporters.
In this case, the Valencian agricultural sector's union reflects the importance of establishing equitable conditions in the international citrus trade, promoting reciprocity, justice, and equality in the phytosanitary regulations applied.
Source: castellonplaza.com