The Councillor of Agriculture, Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development of the Region of Valencia, Elena Cebrián, has analysed in the plenary of Les Corts Valencianes, the extension of the cooperation agreement between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community.
The agreement will allow the progressive entry, without tariffs, of citrus products from South Africa. The Council is asking the European Commission to carry out an impact study for this measure, which, as recalled by the Councillor, should have been done prior to the ratification of the agreement.
Moreover, this study would be the basis for compensatory measures, if necessary. This has been stated on several occasions by the Councillor at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
According to Cebrián, the agreement, extended now until 30 November, could have negative effects on the market, since "the citrus campaign of South Africa would extend until the time when the Valencia orange season is at its peak, which entails the risk of an oversupply and, in turn, of potential problems to sell the oranges and falling prices."
To this we must add the phytosanitary aspects. In the words of the Councillor, "the citrus fruits from South Africa are subject to many incidences related to pests, especially Black Spot, so we must remain very vigilant, demand more phytosanitary controls at origin and denounce, where appropriate, any infringements of the agreement on South Africa's part."
In addition to this monitoring, the Councillor has suggested a proactive response from the Region of Valencia on three issues. Firstly, to work on the quality of the product, since "in December, with the season in full swing, we have the best oranges in Europe; secondly, managing to ensure the accuracy of the citrus production capacity estimations, which were sometimes manipulated by previous governments, and are a key tool for transparency and information for the markets; thirdly, we have been leaders in production and we must work to be also the first in marketing and logistics," concluded Cebrián.
Furthermore, the Councillor will send a letter to the Minister of Agriculture with arguments in defence of the Valencian citrus sector.
Source: castelloninformacion.com
