FTW pick: SA works with EU following latest CBS interceptions

The Citrus Growers’ Association has offered assurances over the future of South Africa’s exports to the EU following the latest CBS (citrus black spot) interception - the fourth this year and one short of this year’s limit placed by the EU on fruit from South Africa.



The industry is not at risk of a blanket embargo following this latest development, Citrus Growers’ Association special envoy EU and CBS, Deon Joubert, told FTW.



“The EU can at any stage reassess if the SA measures are adequate and mitigating risk. By closing organic lemon exports, SA is demonstrating it is serious and working diligently to ring-fence challenges as they arise,” said Joubert.



What’s important, he says, is for the South African industry to understand the process in the EU so that it is better able to mitigate risk to avoid further interceptions.



And that was the objective of a high-level delegation of South African experts who were in Europe last week to inspect the procedures used to identify CBS in order to better understand how they are applied.



To read the full FTW article, click here.

http://www.ftwonline.co.za/FTWeditions/2015/2162-7August2015/page3.html