Spanish fresh produce association Asaja Murcia has claimed that as much as 40 per cent of the Spanish region’s citrus crop could be lost should new European pesticide standards come into force.

Following a European Parliament vote on 13 January, the controversial new crop protection regulations look almost certain to become a reality and the association claimed the plans would ban the majority of pesticides currently in use.

Asaja Murcia has claimed that the restrictions could lead to a drop in production for crops such as citrus of between 40 and 80 per cent in Murcia, arguing that there are no equally effective alternative pest control products currently available for growers.

The association’s general secretary, Alfonso Gálvez Caravaca, claimed that non-EU countries would be able to continue to use banned pesticide products for the production of fruit and vegetables for sale in Europe.

Spanish agricultural association COAG has also criticised the plans as being “irresponsible” and has urged the EU to give the fresh produce sector time to investigate and put in place alternative pesticide products.

Such a moratorium, they argued, would also give the fresh produce sector time to further developing biological pest control systems.

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