interventions citrus with pests from non-EU countries continues to grow despite the measures taken. European Union to protect their farms. Therefore it continues increased risk A deadly plague on citrus fruits of the Commonwealth of Valencia and consequent destruction of the harvest economic losses and employment in rural areas.
To prevent this, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological TransitionIsaura NavarroHe insisted Agriculture Minister Luis PlanasTo mediate Valencian agriculture European Union To analyze the impact of new phytosanitary risks posed by British agricultural imports on Valencia citrus. Another negative outcome of Brexit.
In a letter addressed to the minister, the minister “The very worrying impact of the UK substituting market shares for products such as citrus from Spain to the UK by products imported from other non-EU countries.” Mainly from South Africa.
Navarro said, “This is a additional job problem increased phytosanitary risks for our productions and, as a result, associated with the movement of products imported from countries that are not free of these pests and diseases within the EU”.
It should be noted that the UK does not require this. cold therapy for the import of oranges into its territory from South Africaproven not to be free in the land Thaumatotibia leucotretaAmong other pests such as Phyllosticta citricarpa a fungus that causes the dreaded citrus black spot disease.
In this sense, the Ministry requests its intervention. European Commission phytosanitary committees within the framework of citrus fruits and other fruits and vegetables from other third countries, especially the Mediterranean, which are not free from various serious plant pests and diseases.
phytosanitary risks
The minister stated that “the EU should analyze the new phytosanitary risks being imported”. Britain of plants and herbal products due to the dispersal of these products while traveling on the territory of the European Union.
In addition, it requests a review and update of new requirements for enhanced quality control. Border Checkpoints Considering that free imports pose a very serious risk to whole plant health, the necessary EU agriculture and biodiversity.
The minister concluded his letter by referring to “interference in international trade caused by asymmetries at the maximum limits of pesticide residues and by imports of herbal products from the EU to the EU”. United Kingdomthe asymmetry this creates in agricultural practices in the EU and third countries, and the resulting asymmetry associated with more stringent residue levels in products manufactured in the EU and less stringent residue levels in products manufactured outside the EU. AB” .
Measures against unfair competition
Minister Isaura Navarro, together with Rafa Climent, Minister of Sustainable Economy, told the Minister of Agriculture that the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur –Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela and Bolivia– Includes measures to protect the Valencia agri-food industry and the food security of European consumers.
Members of parliament insist that this situation must be brought to an end. phytosanitary dumping And Lack of reciprocity in banning the use of pesticides against third countriesand also a orange juice recipe. All this, as they say, “leads to unfair competition”.
“Agricultural products produced in Mercosur countries should be respected” Same health and environmental standards as the EUIn order to offer the same guarantees and guarantees to European consumers, those who do not comply with them should be charged and checked. Protection of health while consuming domestic product and consuming imported product”.
Orange juice
In addition, both Isaura Navarro and Rafa Climent demand “at least a 10-year tariff transition for 100% squeezed orange juice that does not come from concentrate (NFC),” Imported into the EU from fruits produced on Mercosur territory and processed into such juices on Mercosur territory.
In the minister’s words, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement should encourage and guarantee a consistent and proportional tariff transition for imports of fruit juice produced in Brazil into the EU. They insist on this line “There should be no competition with low quality fruit juices produced with phytosanitary products banned in the EU”.
this should be noted Brazil is the world’s leading exporter of this product, with a production, transformation and distribution structure strongly concentrated in three companies and a dominant position in global markets.. This country is the market leader in NFC orange juice supply, both in volume and price.
Both Navarro and Climent are urging the Government to include NFC orange juice in products that “have a required tariff transition” in negotiations between the EU and Mercosur.
The letter also calls for a number of solutions and improvements in the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur for the smooth functioning of the European internal market. protect consumer rights and food safetyadvocating for a quality local agri-food industry and Climate and environmental agreements championed by Brussels.