La Unió Llauradora, on behalf of Valencian agricultural producers, has asked the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, to defend before the European Union the declaration of European citrus fruits as a sensitive product. This categorisation would offer citrus fruit greater protection against unfair competition from third countries.
The current context poses a number of challenges for European farmers, who face higher production costs due to strict sustainability and food safety regulations. On the other hand, imported products are not subject to the same conditions, creating an inequality that puts the competitiveness of local producers at risk.
The demands of La Unió
The organisation stresses that the citrus sector is key to the economy and employment in communities such as Valencia, where it generates thousands of jobs and contributes to environmental balance. The inclusion of citrus fruits as a sensitive product in trade agreements with non-EU countries would help:
- Limit the massive entry of products with lower standards.
- Preventing the fall in prices that harms local producers.
- Ensure a fair deal for European farmers.
In addition, La Unió is demanding greater rigour in phytosanitary controls to avoid pests such as the black spot, detected in consignments imported from South Africa.
Commitment and action
Minister Planas has recognised the importance of the citrus sector and has promised to convey these concerns to Brussels. La Unió insists that this is a key opportunity to protect one of the pillars of European agriculture and ensure its future viability.
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