Spain asks for stricter cold treatment of South African citrus

The Spanish trade association Ava-Asaja reports that in July the European Union detected for the first time this season African codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta), a quarantine pest, in citrus from South Africa destined for the European market. The plague was found in a shipment of oranges and a shipment of grapefruit. The organization led by Cristóbal Aguado believes these interceptions show that EU measures are insufficient to halt the importation of this dangerous pest from South Africa. He therefore calls on Brussels to tighten up the cold treatment (the mechanism that prevents African codling moth from surviving on citrus) of South African citrus. "We demand rigorous compliance with the cold treatment approved for shipments of oranges and the extension of the measure for mandarins and grapefruit, as these fruits pose the same phytosanitary risk." South Africa led the world in July in pest and disease interceptions, with 16 detections, all in citrus. In addition to the ...