Following the Chinese inspections, a protocol on the phytosanitary requirements has been approved by both parties in early 2016. Nonetheless, the Chinese required further analyses to assess the presence of pathogens and parasites that may require quarantine.
In particular, the AQSIQ wants an assurance that citrus groves are not affected by:
Carob moth (Apomyelois ceratoniae).
Fuller rose beetle Pantomorus cervinus.
Mal secco (Phoma tracheiphila).
Septoria spot (Septoria citri).
Brown rot (Phytophthora hibernalis and Phytophthora syringae).
Should any of these be detected in future shipments of blond and red oranges or lemons, these will be denied entry or destroyed. In addition, the area/company of origin will no longer be considered suitable for export.
What is more, should China detect what is considered an even bigger threat, i.e. live specimens of Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), not only will the shipment be denied entry/destroyed, but the entire export programme will also be suspended.
In order to avoid this risk, the phytosanitary programme agreed by the two countries envisages three possible types of cold treatment:
1.1 °C or less, for no less than 15 consecutive days
1.7 °C or less, for no less than 17 consecutive days
2.1 °C or less, for no less than 21 consecutive days
"The type of cold treatment required basically replicates what is required by the US regulation and is even more complicated than what is required by the Japanese. Once the additional analyses has been carried out, we will draft a preliminary export programme and then China will authorise exports from just some companies or from all of them. We hope we will be able to carry out the first test shipment during the 2016/17 season."
