Brussels, 30/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 30 April, health experts from the EU member states examined the possibility of resuming - under strict control - imports of citrus fruit from South Africa coming from areas infected by black spot disease. Another experts' meeting at the end of May could decide to lift the total embargo on South African citrus fruit. The embargo was imposed in November 2013 and has hit imports of South African orange juice, which is much appreciated in the EU.
In return for resuming imports of South African citrus fruit, the 28 EU member states will demand that more stringent measures than those in force before their suspension be imposed on South Africa, so that South Africa can effectively ensure that its citrus fruit exported to the EU is not contaminated with black spot disease, a Community source told EUROPE on Thursday. The European countries producing citrus fruit, including Spain, which are pushing for still more control, want to strengthen the Commission's proposal, which is based on the report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) given at the start of the year. EFSA had at that time confirmed that the disease, which is caused by the Guignardia citricarpa Kiely fungus and which does not exist in the EU, “presents a risk” for European trees.
The embargo imposed on South African citrus fruit in November only focuses on the 2012-2013 harvest - stocks of which are coming to an end. The objective was then to send a signal to South Africa to inspect its shipments to Europe more carefully. Despite the phytosanitary monitoring exercised by the South African authorities, EU customs services detected 36 infected South African shipments in 2013.
Greatly alarmed by this issue, EU agricultural organisations under the banner of Copa-Cogeca - organisations which represent large-scale European farmers - urged the European Commission and member states on 23 April to adopt measures for 2014 to control South African citrus fruit imports more so as to prevent the spread of black spot disease. “The high number of interceptions in 2013 shows the inability of the relevant South African authorities as regards phytosanitary controls. As a result, Copa fears that the control system proposed does not work”, the European organisations stated.
South Africa exports nearly 70% of its lemons, oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruit production. Nearly half its exports are to the European market. (EH)