Why has China destroyed 20 tonnes of Spanish fruit?

Around 2,000 crates of Spanish citrus fruit were crushed on March 15th after the shipment was deemed to be illegal raising questions as to its true origin.

The fruit had a value of around €14,000 ($15,800) and was destroyed for “failing to pass quarantine and inspection tests” at Tjanjin port, according to a report in China News.

Health officials told the news agency that the shipment was infested with fruit flies and had to be destroyed to prevent contagion from the imported fruits to local farms.

The oranges and lemons were tipped into a landfill and treated with quicklime before being covered in earth.

Last year Spanish exports of citrus fruits to China amounted to around €3million, triple that of a year earlier.