The Valencian government’s top official, Ximo Puig, plans to reach out to the German and Dutch ambassadors in Spain this Monday to urge their nations not to complicate the European Commission’s efforts to subject citrus imports from South Africa and other countries to cold-treatment protocols. The goal is to prevent the risk of Thaumatotibia leucotreta, the false moth pest, entering European territory through contaminated shipments.
Following the European Commission’s decision to remove a proposal mandating cold-processing requirements for oranges imported from non-member countries from its agenda last Friday, Puig has proposed a course of action that concerns Valencia’s citrus growers. The move underscores tensions between trade facilitation and strict plant health safeguards that affect farmers and exporters across the region.
Brussels halts cold treatment for imported oranges and stirs industry debate
Puig noted the stance over the weekend and indicated that he had held several discussions with Agriculture Minister Luis Planas. He also reported a meeting this morning with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and with Socialist MEP Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero, who accompanied the Valencian delegation to raise the issue in Brussels. The aim, according to Puig, was to make the concerns visible within the European capital and to build a broader consensus.
He emphasized that the plan was to secure alignment among member states and institutions, ensuring that the demands voiced by Valencia receive due consideration. Puig added that shifts in policy should not undermine reciprocal treatment for producers who operate under similar health and safety standards across the single market. The message was clear: health safeguards must guide commerce, not get overshadowed by trade logistics. The delegation insisted that the same, rigorous phytosanitary conditions should apply to products sold within Europe as are applied to those entering it from other regions. The point was stressed repeatedly: trade must protect public health as a non-negotiable priority.
The broader context is a debate about whether the EU should maintain mandatory cold-treatment for certain citrus imports as a shield against pests, or whether a more flexible, harmonized approach could achieve the same health outcomes without placing additional burdens on producers and exporters. Officials in Valencia argue that uniform health standards are essential for fair competition and for sustaining local farming communities that rely on citrus exports. They also argued that a credible, science-based policy framework would minimize disruption while preserving plant health guarantees across the bloc. The discussion touches on the balance between rapid market access for exporters and the rigorous checks required to prevent pest incursions that could threaten European agriculture. [citation: European Commission briefing notes]
The debate is not merely administrative. It has real implications for growers, distributors, and retailers who depend on predictable regulatory conditions. Valencia’s representatives contend that any policy change should be accompanied by clear timelines, transparent criteria, and a cooperative approach that includes member states, the Commission, and the affected sectors. While the rhetoric focuses on reciprocity and equal treatment, the underlying issue is a shared responsibility to uphold biosecurity standards without creating unnecessary cost burdens that could ripple through the supply chain. [citation: Valencia government communications]