Italian agricultural representatives are expected to take a stance against citrus imports from South Africa, Brazil and Argentina tomorrow at an industry work group in Brussels.

The Italian stance adds to vocal calls out of Spain to ban South African citrus due to fears of spreading fungal disease citrus black spot via imports.

In late October, Sicilian agriculture councillor Dario Cartabellotta formally asked Minister of Agriculture, Nunzia De Girolamo, to ban citrus from Brazil, Argentina and South Africa, as a phytosanitary safeguard measure.

Confagricoltura Catania's Corrado Vigo has joined the councillor's call and will be encouraging the ban at tomorrow's meeting. Vigo was named as a member of the Brussels commission in June by Confagricoltura.

On his personal blog, Vigo expressed concern that imports could encourage both black spot and citrus greening. He asked that imports be restricted until lack of contamination risk could be proven.

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