Agricultural Defense acts and reduces citrus canker interceptions

After notification by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) about the ban on processors from Lima Ácida Tahiti, in the State of São Paulo and who export to the European Union (EU), the Agricultural Defense Coordination (CDA) of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (SAA) has been working to meet the requirements of the Federal agency and so that the consolidation units (CUs) continue to export.

“After the CDA became aware of the interceptions, audits began at the establishments involved,” says Alexandre Paloschi, director of the Department of Health Defense and Plant Inspection.

From the 4th to the 8th, a series of activities were carried out in the Catanduva Region, a region that is the country's largest exporter. 53 new servers from 24 regions received training and UCs were inspected. “The new trained employees are able to monitor the trade and correct use of pesticides, phytosanitary certification, export of citrus fruits, in addition to verifying the correct management of HLB (Greening) and citrus canker”, comments Alexandre.

“After the intensification of actions, interceptions of citrus canker in the EU, which arrived in 11 loads in April this year, fell to three in June. These actions tend to continue, as the fruits from the rainy season with a greater probability of the presence of the pest are harvested and arrive in the EU in the coming months”, explains the agronomist.

In total, 12 properties were inspected regarding the use of pesticides and health certification, 17 establishments that sell the product, 20 Consolidation Units (UCs) in addition to an Empty Packaging Receiving Unit (UREV).

Another action aimed at reducing the incidence of interceptions takes place from August 1st. “All UCs and properties interested in exporting to the EU will have to have a specific registration in which the requirements will be verified on-site visit in order to guarantee greater health of the fruit”, reveals Alexandre.

“It is important to highlight that the UCs involved in the export ban represent less than 20% of the volume exported by the State of São Paulo, which currently has 52 UCs suitable for export”, highlights Paloschi.

Herculand

A mega inspection operation, in order to maintain control of the pest in the State, was carried out in the municipality of Herculândia between the 5th and 6th of July. On that occasion, 11 properties were inspected, two infraction notices were drawn up, a sample suspected of citrus canker was collected, 5.161 citrus seedlings were destroyed in three nurseries and 10.370 myrtle seedlings were also correctly disposed of. “The destroyed seedlings did not have any proof of origin and were being kept in plastic bags with soil, which allows the spread of nematodes and the fungus that causes gummosis, pests that are extremely harmful to various other crops”, comments Valentim Scalon, engineer agronomist and manager of the State Health Program in the Production of Propagation Materials.

“It is important to highlight that the CDA has been taking actions to curb the irregular trade in citrus seedlings since the beginning of the year, and such actions have already been carried out in several regions, such as Limeira, Tupã and Marília”, adds Valentim.

Last Thursday (14), representatives from Agricultural Defense and MAPA met again with producers from the municipality in order to reach a common agreement regarding the regularization of the sector.

In addition to the representatives, the Legislative and Executive powers of the municipality were present in the form of councilors and also the mayor of Herculândia.

At the time, it was agreed that the municipality's seedling production sector will form a task force to adapt to current legislation as quickly as possible. “You need to separate yourself from the bad image that the lack of regularization ends up giving to those who work in this activity. You need to be aware that regularization is a gain for the sector and that an illegal activity, in the case of street selling of seedlings, is prohibited throughout the country”, commented the Coordinator of Agricultural Defense, Luís Fernando Bianco.

In turn, Danilo Tadashi, head of MAPA's Agricultural Defense Division (DDA) used his speech to address the objective of the meeting. “Feel free to contact us for dialogue. Our objective here is not to fine anyone, but rather to preserve São Paulo’s agriculture,” he said.

Danilo also commented that new inspection actions will be carried out in the municipality in the future and asked for the sector's collaboration. “We are not afraid of the police and we would like you not to be either, but for that to happen, everyone needs to be regularized”, commented the head of the Division, referring to the episode where inspectors from state and federal agencies were “trapped”. on a property after demonstrations by mudeiros.