In November, the European Union intercepted three new shipments of South African citrus fruit contaminated with the quarantine disease known as black spot (Phyllosticta citricarpa). This brings the total number of detections of this serious pest to 31 in 2024, according to the European Commission's Europhyt platform. These figures, described as ‘alarming’ by the Valencian Farmers' Association (AVA-ASAJA), are evidence of South Africa's inability to guarantee the phytosanitary safety of its exports.
Demands to protect European agriculture from black spot
AVA-ASAJA has demanded stricter measures from the European Commission. Its president, Cristóbal Aguado, stresses that Europe must prioritise the protection of its agriculture over international trade agreements. It has also asked Brussels to consider limits on pest interceptions on imports from third countries in order to decide on possible restrictions at its borders.
Beyond South Africa: the global pest challenge
The problem is not limited to South Africa; other countries such as Zimbabwe, Vietnam and China have also reported cases of pests in their exports. These incidents highlight the urgent need to strengthen phytosanitary controls to protect European crops from diseases that threaten their sustainability.
Read the full story here: Original source.
