UNIÓ denounces Sigal tangerine plantations that have not been cleaned or quarantined

UNIÓ de Llauradors i Ramaders has detected in some plots in the Valencian Community the presence of a variety of hybrid mandarins of israeli origin, called Sigal, which allegedly have not passed the legally established quarantine phase nor proven to be sanitized. The organization has transferred these facts to the Ministry of Agriculture so that, through its Plant Protection Service, it acts urgently and inspects the plots, applying, if applicable, the current legislation.

According to the current legislation, “it can not be cultivated in our territory any variety of citrus fruit that has not passed the corresponding quarantine period or been certified by the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA) that is fully sanitized.”

UNIÓ has asked the Ministry of Agriculture that in the event that the facts argued are conclusively proven “proceed to the destruction of these plantations and it is recorded that the existence of this plantation in our territory is prior to the application for registration the same in the register of varieties of species that have applied for plant protection”.

This variety is a obtainment of the Aro Volcani Center of Israel and the title in Spain is of Citrus Genesis. Nevertheless, and as been denounced by LA UNIÓ, this variety should not be cultivated either in the Valencian Community or in the Spanish State since, for the moment, neither the legally established quarantine nor its sanitation has been verified, a serious danger to citrus farming, due to the serious phytosanitary risk involved in the arrival of plant material without any type of control.

UNIÓ is also intended to prevent a situation of abuse in the future from charging farmers with high royalties for crop regulation

A precedent of the aforementioned was the process that took place in the case of the Orri variety, whose plant material was expanded before its protection and then, after obtaining it, to claim by means of regulation processes royalties that were around 75 € per plant and 0.03 euros per kg marketed.

The mandarin Sigal is a hybrid between the Orah and the Shani, whose fruit is of medium size, without neck, dark orange color, parthenocarpic, not autoincompatible and late maturing, since in Israel it takes place between the months of January and February.

Source: LA UNIÓ de Llauradors