What is the EU waiting for to close its borders to South African citrus? 20 detections of black spot in 3 months

South Africa is grappling with a significant issue of black spot in its citrus exports, with 20 interceptions reported in the first three months of the export campaign to the EU. Zimbabwe has also faced interceptions due to black spot and false orange moth in August. The EU is being urged to enforce mandatory cold treatment for citrus imports from countries that cannot ensure shipment safety, including South Africa and Zimbabwe. The presence of pests such as False Moth, Black Spot, Citrus Canker, and Citrus Scab in imported citrus fruits threatens European citrus cultivation, leading to higher production costs and agronomic management challenges.

It is clear that South Africa has a serious problem with black spot in citrus (Phyllosticta citricarpa). It accumulated eight cases (7 in lemons and 1 in mandarin oranges) in its exports to the EU during the last month of August, which added to the 12 detections in June and July, raise to twenty the interceptions of black spot in South African citrus in its first three months of export campaign. What is the EU waiting for to close its borders to South African citrus? What commercial interests is it putting first? Will it wait, as it does every year, for South Africa itself to decide to stop its exports when all the ships have already set sail and without providing any kind of guarantee? they ask at AVA-ASAJA. Zimbabwe, a country bordering South Africa, also recorded one interception of black spot and one of the false orange moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) in its orange imports in August, which is why the agricultural organisation is urging that the mandatory cold treatment be ...