Spain: The 'False moth' detected in Israel should force the EU to extend the application of cold treatment

The Citrus Management Committee (CGC) of Spain is calling for an investigation into breaches of pest control measures, specifically the use of cold treatment against the false moth in European citrus imports from South Africa and Israel. The case highlights a inconsistency in the European Commission's (EC) phytosanitary certification practices, with different approaches towards South Africa and Israel, leading to the detection of the false moth in mandarins from Israel. The CGC emphasizes the need for proper cold treatment application to prevent the spread of the pest and criticizes the lower cost and logistical advantages of the alternative systems approach used for Israel, which has allowed the pest to infiltrate citrus imports despite its stricter cold treatment requirements for exports to other countries. This situation underscores the broader implications for the citrus industry, involving significant trade volumes and the risk of pest transmission, as South Africa remains a major citrus supplier despite its WTO dispute with the EU over the cold treatment issue.