Citrus exporters await crucial CBS report

South African citrus exporters are waiting with bated breath for the much-anticipated final report on Citrus Black Spot (CBS) by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It’s expected to be released and published within the next two months. Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) of Southern Africa CEO Justin Chadwick said this would guide citrus exporters in South Africa, as the report would either find against or for claims that CBS poses a threat to importing countries’ crops. The European Union, which has introduced tough importing measures on South African fruit, has taken a hard-line stance on CBS – a decision that has had a major impact on South Africa’s citrus farmers who have seen costs escalate in an attempt to ensure CBS-free fruit. South Africa, along with countries such as Australia, Brazil and the USA earlier this year, presented the EFSA with a report disputing their stance. Researchers from the participating countries found that CBS did not pose the major risk claimed by the EFSA. Their contention is that fruit is not the pathway for the introduction of CBS therefore crops in the EU are not at risk from imported fruit from South Africa or other countries in the southern hemisphere. EFSA has since embarked on a public consultation process and is in the last stages of finalising its report on CBS and its impact. “The report is expected to be released towards the end of December or early January,” said Chadwick. “Either they will agree with our position, which will hopefully result in an easing up of the restrictions, or they are going to maintain their position which will see the restrictions remaining in place.” South Africa’s citrus trade with the EU remains difficult. Constituting a multibillion rand industry, the EU remains the country’s biggest citrus market. “At present we are not much further in resolving the CBS issue than we ever were. It really is about the report and we are waiting for that. It will guide the way forward,” said Chadwick. The CGA has for years pursued all possible avenues with the EU in an effort to see a slackening of regulations on CBS. This year the citrus industry even called an early end to its exporting season due to CBS. This followed the EU intercepting more consignments of affected oranges after it had earlier warned South Africa that a total of five interceptions could result in a ban on citrus originating from a country. Chadwick said South African farmers were already spending massive amounts of money in an effort to combat CBS. INSERT & CAPTION Fruit is not the pathway for the introduction of CBS therefore crops in the EU are not at risk from imported fruit from South Africa. – Justin Chadwick