The European Union decides in favour of cold treatment for imported oranges.

In a decision of 25 May, the SCoPAFF (Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed) definitively approved the obligation of a 'cold treatment' of oranges imported from sub-Saharan countries where the False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leukotreta) is present. In concrete terms, this measure will involve a transitional regime for the current season and a dual cold treatment alternative from the 2023 season onwards;

• From this season onwards, the European Commission will require countries where False Carpocaps cases have been declared (South Africa and Zimbabwe) to pre-cool to 5 degrees Celsius before departure and to treat in transit at -1 to 2 degrees for 25 days.

• From 2023 onwards, there will be two options: cold treatment between -1 and 0 degrees for 16 days or cold treatment between -1 and 2 degrees for 20 days. In both cases, in line with standard practice in this area, operators will be required to pre-cool to 0 and 2 degrees. Among many other technical requirements, this proposal will require monitoring with sensors to produce records for inspection purposes.

This decision will only come into force when it is published in the Official Journal of the European Union. However, no official date has been given yet. While this measure is a first for the European market, similar procedures are already in place for other export markets such as Japan, the United States, Thailand...