COPA-COGECA has welcomed the motion presented and currently in the process of voting and approval in Strasbourg, urging the authorities to monitor and enforce stricter measures to prevent the spread of Black Spot, also known as Phyllosticta, due to its presence in citrus fruits exported to member states or overseas.
As stressed by one of the sector's spokespersons, Clara Eugenia Aguilera, "if there is something we have learned from the Xylella fastidiosa alarm is that it is not enough to wait and see; it is necessary to act. COPA-COGECA general secretary Pekka Pesonen shares this point of view, and stated that "the EU and the Organization for the Protection of Mediterranean Crops recommend the use of cold treatment to fight this organism, transporting these citrus fruits in low temperature containers."
Risk for exports
He also warned that if no severe measures are adopted, there is a risk of Black Spot spreading in all citrus fruits, with the consequences this would entail for the producers, mainly located in southern Europe, including Spain. "The EU has a citrus exporting network and this could mean losing exports and our position within the global export market," concluded Pesonen.
