FreshPlaza talked to agronomist Corrado Vigo for a comment on the request to block all citrus fruit imports from South Africa and South America, supported also by Dario Cartabellotta, councillor for Agriculture, in order to prevent the import of some diseases which are as yet, not affecting the Mediterranean.
"The ban had already been discussed in Brussels, back on 27th May, during a meeting held to talk about CTV. At the time, nine Spanish Commission members requested this proposal, and it was applied in early June," explained Vigo.
"Also in June, Confagricoltura decided to make me an effective member of the Commission in Brussels and, on 7th November, the Citrus Black spot is also on the agenda together with Citrus greening and other problems such as Guazatine residues."
"At the meeting I will request a block on all imports of citrus fruit coming from South Africa, Brazil and Argentina, as the Plant Protection Service have detected levels that are high enough for protection measures to be implemented."
"Cartabellotta asked that I do so and I will personally do all I can to avoid any other disaster such as the CTV. I will ask for all imports to be blocked until it is proven that we are no longer at risk of contamination," concludes Corrado Vigo.