The chairman of Sicilian citrus watchdog body, Consorzio Arancia Rossa di Sicilia, is calling for the “immediate suspension of the importing of all citrus fruits coming from South Africa and the application by the European Union (EU) of the same measures applied by third countries to the export of olives affected by Xylelia”.
According to Garardo Diana: “Official data from the (EU’s) Europhyt-Traces portal confirms that, up until October, 51 citrus fruit batches from South Africa were affected by 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 (South Africa) that only oranges declared free from the disease could leave for the European Union.”
Diana said checks against black spot should be strengthened to prevent diseases from entering European territory.
His fears align with the recent alarm by the Spanish interbranch organisation, Intercitrus.
The vice-chairman of the consortium, Elena Albertini, said: “We must insist (that) citrus fruit coming from extra-EU countries be subjected to cold treatment.”
This is already compulsory for 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, Albertini said. Source: Fresh Plaza
