Asaja-Málaga's demands about the need to increase the availability of plant protection products for tropical crops, following their recent introduction to the area, appear to be finally listened to.
Following the request of the Government of Andalusia, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment has authorised foliar spraying with two products: spirotetramat as a pesticide against mango mealybug, against which no other approved product is available, and spiridiclofen against avocado spider mites, for which other licensed products exist, but to which the pest is becoming resistant because of their continued use.
The statement also says that Asaja "positively values the Government's efforts, although it should be clear that we are talking about a special authorisation" to take effect only from 21 July to 18 November 2014. These exceptional and temporary measures have been well received by Asaja, as they will alleviate the phytosanitary control problems for two of the province's most innovative crops.
As often denounced by the organisation, ASAJA believes that the long-term solution is to implement the EU legislation on minor uses that "was incomprehensibly brought to a complete halt." This legislation covers crops that are not widely grown in the Member States (e.g. avocado and mango) and although catalogued as minor, they account for 22% of the total value of the EU's crop production, reaching 70,000 million Euro per year.
Their cost should not prevent the EC from approving their use permanently
These crops' producers require phytosanitary companies to register pesticides, which in turn are authorised by the Member States. Registration is very expensive and sometimes not worth the expense, which is why they are often not authorised.
Losses and cost increases caused by growers not being able to use certain pesticides have been estimated by the Commission at 1,000 million Euro. In Malaga there are very clear and specific cases with mango and avocado crops, as well as a variety of vegetables, and it directly affects organic production.
The seriousness of Malaga's problems with these crops are very clear taking into account that the EU has removed 70% of the authorised active ingredients since 1993.
Source: Efe
