Last Monday the Citrus Growers’ Association took a decision to recommend that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries proactively suspend the export of citrus fruit to the European Union.
The decision was taken at a special meeting of the CGA’s Citrus Black Spot (CBS) committee after consulting widely with all stakeholders.
The recommendation excludes soft citrus and kumquats, as well as exports from the CBS-free regions of the Western and Northern Cape.
The CGA recommended that DAFF stop inspecting citrus fruit destined for the EU at end of business last Thursday (September 17).
As an additional measure of risk mitigation, the organisation has presented a programme of pre-import DAFF inspections in the EU through one port [Rotterdam] to address any possible perceived risk associated with the ‘floating consignments’ that will leave SA after inspections stop on September 17 and EU market closure.
“The South African citrus industry hopes that this decision keenly demonstrates our commitment to meeting the EU’s requirements and keeping the market open,” a CGA spokesman said.
