this oranges from South Africa for sale European Union must comply with the cold treatment mandate from this summer at the origin to prevent the arrival of pests. It is intended with fend off a new phytosanitary threat, like years ago cotton. The change in regulations was considered a success by governments and agricultural organizations, but Some events accompanied the beginning.
When did the most worrying episode happen? The South African government announced in August that it had managed to “negotiate an agreement” to be able to market unprocessed citrus fruits, on the pretext that this obligation has not yet entered into force when ships are traveling to the European Union.
This communication from South Africa ignited the spirits in the industry. “For us, this would be an intolerable scandal,” said Cristóbal Aguado, president of the AVA-Asaja association. Now, through a question formulated by the socialist MEP Inmaculada Rodríguez Piñero, the EU version of this situation is known.
In her response, European Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides stated that the Commission “has not reached any agreement with South Africa. about the cold treatment of unsuitable batches of oranges”, but at the same time conceded: The questionable fruit was eventually marketed. “The member states have decided to apply a treatment ‘at the ports of destination’ to prevent the destruction of the fruit, it also guarantees adequate phytosanitary protection”, details this article. Regarding the conditions, the commissioner noted that “specifications are subject to change, provided that Member States’ inspectors examine the available information”.
interim measure
Despite this Solomonic solution, the community leader told him: To Rodríguez Piñero, that this “special treatment” by member states “could only be exceptional and temporary,” and that it aims to temporarily handle large quantities of citrus fruits blocked in ports shortly after the new measures come into force. A regulation that will take effect from 14 July.
In fact, Kyriakides states in this answer: South Africa ‘cannot count on approval of this option and must fully comply with the new measures’ Phytosanitary measures for all future citrus shipments.
Since the ratification of the cold treatment obligation, South Africa has taken a belligerent stance to condemn the EU before the World Trade Organization, considering it a protectionist trade measure by Europe’s citrus-producing countries. Criticisms that ignored previous years’ cutbacks of affected shipments, as well as reports from the European Food Safety Authority, which warned of the need for treatment due to the poor security of South African shipments.
Tangerine concerns continue
Cold treatment was a great advance in pest control from South Africa and neighboring countries, but fell short in some respects. What worries the citrus industry in Castellón most is about tangerines, which do not require cold processing. Commissioner Kyriakides explained that “the supplementary declaration of phytosanitary certificates for tangerines originating from South Africa should refer to the relevant requirements and codes of the production facilities”.