On Friday 29 July South Africa called for consultations with the EU at the World Trade Organization (WTO). This request is the first step in a dispute resolution.
South Africa believes that phytosanitary rules related to the pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta imposed by the EU on imports of oranges and other citrus fruits are not compatible with WTO rules.
These products have been subject to special requirements regarding pre-export checks for several years. On 16 June 2022, the EU imposed additional constraints on imports of Citrus sinensis Pers. fruit from Israel and South Africa. It considered this amendment necessary, as cases of non-compliance with the requirements in place continued to occur at EU border controls. In its implementing regulation, the Commission states that it has consulted the WTO on its measure.
The two parties have 60 days of consultations to reach agreement, failing which either party may request the establishment of a panel to arbitrate the dispute.
See South Africa’s request for consultations: https://aeur.eu/f/2rn
See the European implementing regulation at issue: https://aeur.eu/f/2rm (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)