Spanish citrus growers are protesting the arrival of citrus from Egypt on plant-health grounds while they still have fruit on their trees awaiting harvest.
Growers' association Ava-Asaja in Valencia has condemned the arrivals and called on the minister of agriculture to suspend imports from Egypt and sign an export protocol with the north African nation.
Growers demonstrated at the port of Gandía this week as a boat discharged its cargo of Late oranges while growers still have fruit of the same variety yet to pick. Spokesman for the band of protestors from the Oliva agicultural council Fernando Sendra said: "Part of the shipment from Egypt is affected by peach fruit fly which could affect citrus in the Valencia region."
The call is backed by Valencia entomologist Ferran García Marí. "If rigorous measures are not taken against the fly, the probability that it will enter Spain is extremely high," he said.
The pest is on the EU quarantine list and a signed export agreement between the two countries as well as cold treatment is necessary before consignments can be imported.
The council has also called on Spanish citrus trade association Intercitrus to act and intercede to regulate the arrival of oranges from outside the EU.
Ava-Asaja president Cristóbal Aguado said:"Egypt has had this pest for more than six years where it has caused more than €144million of damage a year. Spanish fruit production and Valencia citrus production specifically should not be exposed to this risk for the sake of just 5,000 tonnes of imported citrus when we have more than 300,000 tonnes of Valencia and Navel yet to market."
