Is diversification of crops a viable route to curbing pests?
Interventions aimed at preventing citrus pests from entering from non-EU countries continue to grow despite ongoing controls. The European Union seeks to shield farms and rural communities, yet the risk remains high. The prospect of pest pressure threatening Valencia’s citrus harvests looms large, with potential economic losses and job insecurity in rural areas across the region.
To address this, ministers from foreign affairs, agriculture, rural development, climate emergency, and ecological transition have urged active mediation within the EU to study how new phytosanitary threats from non-EU imports, including those from the United Kingdom post-Brexit, may affect Valencia citrus. The concern centers on how evolving trade patterns could elevate pest and disease exposure in the sector.
In correspondence to key ministers, the worry was raised about the UK substituting Spanish citrus market shares with products from non-EU origins, notably from South Africa, and the potential implications for pest pressure and market stability. Navarro emphasized that such shifts could worsen employment challenges and amplify phytosanitary risks linked to the movement of goods from pest-laden regions into EU markets.
Citrus market dynamics: field prices and trade pressures in 2022
It is noted that the United Kingdom does not require cold treatment for importing oranges from South Africa, a factor that can influence pest containment in transit. Pests such as Thaumatotibia leucotreta and others, along with fungal threats like Phyllosticta citricarpa responsible for citrus black spot, are part of the discussion on import standards. The ministry has called for closer involvement of the European Commission phytosanitary committees to review citrus and other fruits from third countries, particularly those in the Mediterranean region, to ensure robust protection against serious plant pests and diseases. (Source: EU phytosanitary policy discussions)
The EU ministry highlights the need to account for evolving travel and distribution patterns across borders and to assess new phytosanitary risks posed by imports from Britain and other non-EU origins. This approach aims to maintain a resilient shield for EU agriculture and biodiversity safeguards.
The Spanish lemon on the tree while South African lemons flood Alicante’s supermarkets
There is also a push to review and update import requirements to strengthen border controls. The free movement of plant products can pose serious threats to plant health, calling for renewed attention to EU agriculture and biodiversity safeguards. Ministers note asymmetries in pesticide residue limits and emphasize alignment between herbal products imported within the EU and those produced outside, with a view to protecting health while supporting domestic producers. (Policy briefing: plant health and trade)
Ministers involved in drafting the communication stressed the need for stronger oversight and coordinated action with partner regions.
Measures against unfair competition
Navarro and Climent, responsible for sustainable economy and agriculture, pressed for safeguards in the EU-Mercosur trade framework. The goal is to shield Valencia’s agri-food sector and ensure reliable food safety standards for European consumers. Parliamentarians argue that the current arrangement requires a decisive response to phytosanitary dumping and the lack of reciprocity in pesticide bans among trading partners. They describe the situation as unfair competition that disadvantages local producers. Proposals call for ensuring that agricultural goods from Mercosur meet the same health and environmental standards as EU products, guaranteeing equal conditions for European consumers and enforcing corrective measures for non-compliance. (Parliamentary summary: fair trade and safety standards)
Scandal on the field: pests persist in citrus from third countries
Orange juice
Navarro and Climent advocate for a minimum ten-year tariff transition for 100 percent squeezed orange juice that is not from concentrate (NFC) when imported from Mercosur lands and processed there. They argue for a steady, predictable tariff path for NFC juice from Mercosur to the EU to avoid price and quality competition that relies on phytosanitary products banned in the EU. Brazil remains a leading NFC orange juice exporter, with a production and distribution system dominated by a few major players. The ministers urge including NFC orange juice within the tariff transition discussions of the EU-Mercosur talks to ensure fair competition. (Trade notes: NFC orange juice and policy alignment)
The letter also requests improvements in the EU-Mercosur agreement to support the smooth operation of the internal market, protect consumer rights, and strengthen climate and environmental commitments championed by EU institutions. (EU trade policy update)