As a result of the joint work between the Argentine Foreign Ministry, SENASA (the National Service for Agri-food Health and Quality), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the European Union will open to imports of Argentine citrus on 1 May. The citrus market is very valuable for regional economies, which produce 150,000 tons a year for export.
Thanks to Argentina’s efforts, the EU reopened its market to Argentine citrus for the 2021 cultivation and export period. This decision reflects the work done by the Argentine Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in order for an important product of regional economies to be able to regain a highly valuable market. With this decision, Europe confirms the high quality of these Argentine fruits, free of citrus black spot (Phyllostica citricarpa).
Argentina took steps to strengthen its sanitary system as requested by the EU, such as keeping records of production plots and production units in the country in which the citrus fruits are produced, assigning unique traceability codes to these production plots and units; official inspection proved the absence of citrus black spot, through intensified sampling procedures and the previous communication of the list of production plots authorized with their authorized production units so as to guarantee traceability.
Exports to the European market had been suspended on 14 August 2020 because of the unusual amount of citrus black spot found in Argentine shipments. This measure had been ordered until next 30 April.
During last February’s audit conducted by the EU, Argentine officials reported on the new measures adopted to enhance cultivation and exports of Argentina’s Northeastern and Northwestern region citrus and provided assurances to the EU officials, which led to the suspension being lifted.
The decision, published by the EU, allows Argentine citrus to reenter the European market and establishes the commitment to continue implementing measures to enhance the controls of black spot on plants, among others.
Argentina is the EU’s leading lemon supplier and its fourth orange supplier. The European bloc, comprising 27 countries, is the main destination of Argentina’s citrus exports from the country’s Northeastern and Northwestern regions.
