CBS interventions - industry on highest alert

No stone has been left unturned to ensure South African fruit is citrus black spot (CBS) free. After a consignment of lemons with CBS was intercepted at the Port of Rotterdam in July, local authorities stepped up risk management processes and implemented even more stringent measures. With the end of the citrus season fast approaching, hopes are high these measures will hold up and that no further cases will be detected. According to Stuart Symington, CEO of the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB), the stricter measures were implemented at the request of the European Union which has placed a limit on the number of contaminated exports allowed. Should the limit be exceeded, all South African citrus will be banned from the EU. “There is much at stake if we do not get this right,” Symington told FTW on the sidelines of a meeting organised by the Exporters’ Club Western Cape recently. While the Western Cape is free of CBS, a local fruit exporter said it was a very disruptive situation. “It is very stressful for everyone in the citrus industry – whether you are in a CBS area or not. It’s imperative that the issue of CBS be sorted out once and for all. We can’t just have additional measures being introduced. It comes with major costs.” It is a sentiment echoed by role-players across the board. Earlier this year the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) said efforts were ongoing to meet the stringent EU requirements.