Today, the Commission adopted emergency measures with stricter import requirements to prevent the entry of citrus fruit from Argentina contaminated with citrus black spot, a harmful plant disease not native to Europe.

Citrus black spot, caused by the fungus Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa, is a plant disease which attacks citrus plants causing high losses to citrus fruit production. It is not harmful to human health. Whereas, the EU is free from citrus black spot, it is still present in some non-EU countries. Given the interceptions of infected citrus fruit from Argentina, stricter requirements will apply for the import of citrus fruit from this country.

The new requirements will apply as of 5 June 2017.

Should there be excessive interceptions of products with citrus black spot, these emergency measures may be reviewed in the coming months.

For more information on plant health and biosecurity:

http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_biosafety/index_en.htm