Intercitrus calls to extend EU cold treatment requirement to mandarins 

Spanish interprofessional organisation Intercitrus has begun proceedings to demand “documentary evidence and a verification system” from the European Commission that South Africa is complying with cold treatment requirements in its orange exports to the EU to prevent the spread of false coddling moth. Intercitrus says that the measures established so far “are insufficient for the main non-community supplier of citrus to the EU to stop exporting us this dangerous pest.” Intercitrus is also calling for cold treatment requirements to be extended to all crops that are hosts of the insect, such as mandarins and grapefruits. The threat of a second plague of citrus black spot has also emerged, with 21 interceptions registered in South African citrus shipments due to this fungal disease.