Regional authorities in Murcia are to set up a monitoring programme covering warehouses importing citrus from South Africa and Argentina in a bid to tackle the threat posed by citrus black spot (CBS). The plan will focus on the proper application of food safety protocols and the adequate disposal waste products to prevent the spread of the disease.
Angel García Lidón, director of Agrifood industry and agricultural training at Murcia’s Council of Agriculture and Water, held a meeting regional agricultural organisations was held to evaluate the risk posed by citrus imports from countries affected by the disease.
So far, there are no reported cases of CBS in the European Union, despite its rapid spread throughout Southern Hemisphere production regions.
There have been repeated calls from Spanish producers for the European Commission to tighten up the inspection procedure for imports by introducing routine testing for all batches at the point of entry.
