European Parliament
President
Question No 20 by José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil 
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Subject: Imports of citrus fruits from the Southern Cone
In November 2003 Spain was forced to halt imports of fresh citrus fruits from Argentina and Brazil after detecting the presence of diseases which could severely damage Community production, including 'citric canker', which is the most harmful organism for Spanish citrus cultivation.
Spain took emergency measures to prevent the spread of the bacterium concerned, 'xanthomonas campestris (axonopodis) pv. citri', and of two other fungi, 'guignardia citricarpa' and 'Elsinoe spp.'.
Will the Commission take any precautionary measures with a view to the coming marketing year for citrus fruits from the countries of the Southern Cone in order to protect Community territory from the possible introduction of these organisms, also bearing in mind that this year 'citric canker' was found in Spain for the first time?
Questions to Commissioner Patten

