New citrus rules add financial burden

The latest moves by the European Union (EU) standing committee on plant health (SCPH) regarding “black spot” and SA citrus exports is nothing unexpected. Not a whisper of a ban, according to Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA). “As we discussed last time, what they intended to do was to include additional requirements, like inspection and testing at the SA end of the chain, in their phytosanitary regulations related to citrus fruits. “And that’s what they’ve done.” On paper this meant that citrus fruits imported from SA faced more stringent criteria – like recording preand post-harvest chemical treatments; mandatory registration of packing houses; and on-site official inspections at citrus orchards. Also, pretty extensive testing has to be done in SA on all types of citrus fruit, and with an individual focus on ‘Valencia’ oranges. All fruit showing symptoms will be tested, and no distinction has been made between citrus fruits for fresh consumption and citrus fruits for processing. “While onerous, these fruit testing requirements, both in the orchard and packhouse, are within our industry capacities,” Chadwick said. But, while the citrus growers will do it, they don’t need to like it. Indeed, they’re not at all certain about the future of their 120 000-employee, R8-billion-a-year export industry. And Chadwick expressed one of the ‘don’t likes’. “The decision,” he said, “brings a certainty to the industry and, encouragingly, does not legislate automatic bans after a set number of black spot interceptions – a position mooted in the past. “Ominously however, the decision does leave room for ‘additional measures’ to be imposed after five interceptions.” What it all boils down to is that it’s doable – but not economically sustainable, according to the CGA. The industry has already forked out chunks of cash to satisfy the EU demands. And it sets SA on the fruit export back foot, being the sole recipient of this special treatment by the EU. It’s no new argument. Since 1992 there has been a dispute on such matters as the magnitude of the blackspot risk and the measures for mitigation. And although the CGA and the departments of trade and industry, and agriculture, forestry and fisheries, have fought their hearts out, the dispute remains unsettled. “It is now imperative that this dispute – and the science that underlies it – is resolved once and for all,” Chadwick said. And while it will play the game to the rules in the short-term, the CGA has plans for long-term certainty. It has therefore called on Senzeni Zokwana, the new minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, to “prioritise the swift and amicable resolution” of the citrus black-spot dispute with the EU. The EU gets a third of its citrus imports from SA, according to the European authorities. INSERT & CAPTION Ominously the decision does leave room for ‘additional measures’ to be imposed after five interceptions. – Justin Chadwick