While South African exporters have shown hesitation in the European Union market this year due to strict citrus black spot rules, more interceptions of the disease's vector have been recorded for their Argentine counterparts to date.

New rules only allow South Africa to have five detections in a season, and until the end of July only one interception of Guignardia Citricarpa - which causes the disease - had been registered, in a shipment of oranges.

While South Africa's count on the disease remains low, the European Union Notification System for Plant Health Interceptions (EUROPHYT) shows Argentina's record has been less positive.

A EUROPHYT monthly report for July showed there were 8 interceptions of Guignardia Citricarpa in Argentine lemons, while two interceptions were made in June.

Two interceptions of the vector were also made for Brazilian oranges in June and July.

However, there is still a long way to go for the season. In 2011 and 2012, interceptions of the vector in South African fruit started to pick up in August with highs in October-November.

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