Citrus exports from South Africa destined for EU markets are a time bomb threat, an ever more obvious and dangerous form, with European introduce the devastating disease of citrus black spot (Guignardia or Phyllosticta citricarpa) , not in vain because the South African citrus shipments in recent months to Europe almost doubled the ceiling for black spot authorized by the European Union (EU).
The Valencian Farmers Association (AVA-ASAJA) said that the latest official figures speak for themselves about the dimension that has reached the problem as far detections of this dangerous fungus in the South African citrus shipments totaled nine, that is, almost double than allowed by the EU executive in recent provisions issued in this regard. Indeed, last year, and to the unceasing pressure of Spanish citrus sector as a whole, the European Commission established that if shipments were located in South Africa more than five cases of black spot “strong measures” to be taken should include, as a fundamental part of them, the immediate closure of the borders to citrus from South Africa. Well, late last August had already produced nine European ports detections shipments contaminated with South African citrus black spot.
However, the European Commission, clearly in contravention of its own ordinances on this point, has remained idly in a state of complete passivity to what is happening and not take any of that “strong measures” that promised to be applied against the excesses South Africans in plant health. It should also be noted that this year the weather has played for South Africa to facilitate the attacks of this disease in their plots were less virulent than in other campaigns, since otherwise the number of detections would have been even greater.
In this situation, AVA-ASAJA considered absolutely inadmissible accomplice and permissive attitude that is showing the European Commission to South Africa, an attitude which, after repeated promises unfulfilled and, above all, with the serious risk posed to black spot citriculture European, only it is regarded as a joke in the making.
Faced with this alarming situation, AVA-ASAJA Community authorities requires a radical change in its current temporizing approach that results in turn in the immediate closure of European borders to citrus from South Africa with the added commitment not It will be opened before that that country is able to guarantee a reliable way that has solved the problem of the black spot.
In this sense, AVA-ASAJA alert on diversions that South Africa held last year with the full agreement of the EU to announce, for the same dates, that in the presence of bulky black spot on their shipments suspended so unilateral exports, except that his announcement came as the export campaign was almost complete and the last shipments bound for European ports.
AVA-ASAJA expected to return to South Africa this year not to engage in such a ceremony of confusion and calls on the EU to show much stronger if the citrus exporters of that country again unto implement a pantomime of such caliber.
At the same time, AVA-ASAJA transmits its concern at the serious deterioration suffered during this campaign imports of citrus fruits originating in Argentina, because, after years of relative prosperity, during this period the number of interceptions of stain black in shipments has soared to the same level and unacceptable in the case of South Africa, ie nine. Therefore, this agrarian organization requests that they apply the same criteria to Argentina in controlling and closing borders to South Africa. The problem is of equal magnitude in both countries and the EU must act with the same rigor in both cases.
Source: AVA-Asaja
