{"id":699,"date":"2024-10-16T10:22:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T08:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cocalni.com\/?p=699"},"modified":"2024-10-16T10:24:09","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T08:24:09","slug":"alarm-bells-ring-over-tainted-citrus-imports-from-south-africa-and-zimbabwe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cocalni.com\/en\/alarm-bells-ring-over-tainted-citrus-imports-from-south-africa-and-zimbabwe\/","title":{"rendered":"Alarm bells ring over tainted citrus imports from South Africa and Zimbabwe"},"content":{"rendered":"

In September 2024, the EU intercepted several citrus shipments from South Africa and Zimbabwe with dangerous pests that threaten European agriculture. These include black spot (Phyllosticta citricarpa<\/em>), a disease that seriously affects citrus fruit and, if it reaches Europe, could cause losses in the millions. South Africa recorded seven new cases of the pest in shipments of oranges, lemons and mandarins, bringing the total number of detections so far this year to 26. This is in addition to five contaminated shipments from Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farming organisations such as AVA-ASAJA and LA UNI\u00d3 have demanded stricter measures from the European Union to curb these imports, pointing out that South Africa, far from controlling its pests, has denounced the European measures before the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This conflict has generated tensions, as South Africa and Zimbabwe lead in the number of pest detections, despite the cold treatment protocols established by the EU, which apparently are not working as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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