The EU detects the first oranges from Egypt with residues and prohibited plant protection products that exceed up to 21 times the EU legislation

With the second half of the citrus campaign already underway, the European Union's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) detects the first batches of oranges from Egypt with residue levels exceeding the maximum permitted limit (MPL) and phytosanitary substances whose use is prohibited for European citrus fruits. Specifically, the Valencian Association of Farmers (AVA-ASAJA) reports that Egyptian oranges were intercepted in Italy with 0.21 mg/kg of Chlorpropham—a herbicide and growth regulator that has been banned in the EU since 2019—with an MPL that can exceed EU legislation by up to 21 times. AVA-ASAJA warns that this is not an isolated case, as fruits and vegetables from Egypt have already accumulated seven violations reported by RASFF so far in 2026. In 2025, Egypt totaled 131 interceptions—83 in fruits and vegetables and 26 in citrus—and in 2024, it reached its historical maximum of 180 interceptions—86 in fruits and vegetables and 34 in citrus. Over the past five ...