Grupo AMC and Citrus Genesis ask that the authorities investigate if mandarins of the Sigal variety have been introduced illegally in Spain
In relation to information published by various media, including ECA, referring to a complaint by La Unió de Llauradors i Ramaders on the existence of plant material of the Sigal mandarin variety which would have been illegally introduced in Spain, Grupo AMC and Citrus Genesis have asked authorities to investigate the veracity of this information.
As reported by La Unió in its press release, these specimens of Sigal mandarin did not meet the applicable import requirements. For the AMC Group and its company Citrus Genesis, Exclusive Master Licensees in Spain and other territories of the Sigal variety, property of the Agricultural Research Organization of the State of Israel, “it is not true that there is no plant material of this variety imported legally and certified by the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA) as free from diseases and pathogens, as its property belongs exclusively to our Group and is only in the IVIA, without having been liberated or licensed to third parties”.
“Sigal’s plant material”, it adds, “was legally imported by Citrus Genésis through the IVIA and with the express permission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment of Spain and is currently overcoming the formalities for Obtain the title of plant variety .
According to the AMC Group, “in case there is another Sigal mandarin vegetable material held by third parties in Spain, it has been introduced illegally in the country, without exceeding the relevant import procedures and, in any case, without authorization from the breeder or us”
Therefore, in addition to requiring an investigation by the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development, the AMC Group has contacted the Union of Llauradors i Ramaders for the purpose of requiring their collaboration to identify illegally imported plant material and carry out appropriate legal actions.
In its complaint to the Autonomous Administration, carried out through its Plant Protection Service, it has been requested:
1. Initiate a procedure aimed at investigating the possible existence in the Region of Valencia of material of the Sigal variety introduced illegally in Spain without complying with legally established requirements and procedures.
2. That it urgently require the Union of Llauradors and Ramaders to make available to it all the information it has in relation to the possible existence of plantations of illegal plant material of the Sigal variety, with an indication of the persons and / or entities that have illegally introduced such material and exploited the variety in Spain, exact location of the plots in which the above material and reason for knowledge of such information is located.
3. That, in the event that it is verified that there has been illegal introduction into Spain of plant material of the Sigal variety without complying with the procedures and requirements established in the Plant Protection Law and Royal Decree 58/2005, putting at risk the entire Spanish citrus industry, impose on the offenders the sanctions set out in Articles 58.1 and 58.3 which may entail large economic fines and that the illegal material be destroyed in accordance with the requirements of Article 60 Of the Plant Health Law.
In the aforementioned press release, it is stated that AMC and Citrus Genesis “have no intention of carrying out any regularization of illegal plantations of the mandarin Sigal and will proceed to license the same only to the farmers who decide and in the market conditions that they freely agree “.
Source: AMC Group and Citrus Genesis
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