With Argentina's lemon growers less than two weeks away from the U.S. market opening potentially becoming final, the country's authorities have demonstrated the issue's importance through tough action against a Jujuy operation.

Late last week, Argentina’s National Food Safety and Quality Service (SENASA) announced it had seized and destroyed 30,222 plants in the Jujuy province as they were not being kept under cover. 

While the majority of citrus operations with intentions to export to the U.S. are in the province of Tucumán, the provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca are also considered under the access arrangement from Northwest Argentina (NOA).

The plant destruction in Santa Clara, Jujuy is about 214mi from San Miguel de Tucumán.

"HLB is a very destructive disease for citrus on a global scale. Until now a cure hasn't been found, which means it's highly important to avoid the introduction of it in compliance with current regulations," SENASA said in a release.

"Citrus plant buyers are reminded that they must only acquire citrus material produced under cover."

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