The chairman of Consorzio Arancia Rossa di Sicilia, Gerardo Diana, is calling for the "immediate suspension of the imports of all citrus fruits coming from South Africa and the application by the EU of the same measures applied by third countries to the export of olives affected by Xylella."
Gerardo Diana
"The official data from the Europhyt-Traces portal confirm that, up until October 2023, 51 citrus fruit batches coming from South Africa were affected by the Citrus black spot, the highest number registered so far. Of the 13 cases recorded in October, 12 involved oranges, a fact that refutes the decision taken by the exporters from this country that only oranges declared free from the disease could leave for the EU. We need to strengthen checks, as we must avoid these diseases from entering our national territory," adds Diana, reiterating the alarm launched by the Spanish Interbranch organisation Intercitrus.
Elena Albertini
The vice-chairman of the consortium Elena Albertini added that "we must insist on the citrus fruit coming from extra-EU countries to be subjected to cold treatment. This is already compulsory for the WU citrus fruit headed to the US, China and Japan, so the EU should push for it to be applied to incoming citrus fruit as well."
Salvatore Scrofani
The Senior deputy chairman of the consortium Salvatore Scrofani shares the same position, as he said that, "in order to protect our citrus fruit groves, it would anyway be appropriate to forbid the packaging of South African oranges in the Italian regions that produce citrus fruit."
For further information:
Gerardo Diana
Consorzio di Tutela
Arancia Rossa di Sicilia IGP
+39 095 507681
aranciarossadisicilia@gmail.com
www.tutelaaranciarossa.it