Brussels, 09/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - As the new import season for citrus fruit from South Africa begins, Copa and Cogeca have written to the European heath and food safety commissioner calling for measures to be stepped up to prevent the spread of black spot disease to Europe (see EUROPE 11092).
The two agricultural organisations point out that recommendations made by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) warn that the Commission should not underestimate the high risk of black spot disease in citrus fruit spreading and contaminating European groves via imports from South Africa.
Copa-Cogeca Secretary general Pekka Pesonen points out that this disease is not present in Europe but could have “disastrous” consequences on the citrus sector in producer countries. He says that the EU should take new measures and enforce its implementing decision of 2 July 2014, to establish “greater phytosanitary controls at ports of entry and especially where the main imports come into the EU - the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. An article should be set up in EU law to enable the EU to decide automatically to shut its border on a precautionary basis to imports when there is a high risk”. (Lionel Changeur)