Following a meeting last week between the Spanish and US plant health authorities, there now remain three points on the control of Mediterranean fruit fly requiring clarification.
The US proposes increasing the required cold-treatment by two days to eliminate any larvae while the Spanish insist this must apply to fruit from all sources. The second point relates to controls on arrival, whereby if a larva is discovered, the Spanish argue that only that batch of fruit should be withdrawn from sale rather than an export ban being imposed. The third point relates to inspection at source, whereby it is proposed that previous protocols are revised so that more fruit is tested: 200 pieces of fruit from each batch, with the entire batch subject to withdrawal should a larva be found.
'Once these points have been cleared up with the US authorities the technical matters which have been preventing the resumption of clementine exports to the US will be practically resolved,' said Spanish citrus trade body Intercitrus in a statement this week.
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