Politics halts lifting of Thai grape export ban

Just as things began to take a forward step in ending the now five-year-old Thailand ban on the importation of SA table grapes and other deciduous fruits, the political upheaval in that country has once again put negotiations on the back foot. It all started when a technical error in documentation detailing how SA fruit exporters fulfilled the necessary phytosanitary conditions was submitted to the Thailand authorities after that country joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2008. But the years of effort to correct this error turned out to be a really complicated bureaucratic mish-mash. It has along the way involved multi-departmental government groups, SA and Thai ambassadorial staff, and representatives of the SA fruit industry. All, as one export contact said: “Infinitely moving round in ever-decreasing circles.” Although Thailand is currently a rather small export market, it has considerable potential for future growth. And it’s still costing SA’s fruit exporters millions of rand in potential earnings. But there’s now a distinct light on the horizon, according to Willem Bestbier, CEO of the SA Table Grape Industry (Satgi). Contact between between SA and Thailand’s National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPOs) has been ongoing, he added. This has focused on the technical aspects related to market access between SA and Thailand. And, according to Bestbier, the Thai authorities seem keen to complete these investigations leading up to the removal of the ban. “Discussions have also been ongoing with the NPPOs on the phytosanitary conditions our grapes have to fulfil,” he told FTW. “And negotiations had got to the stage where a technical visit by the Thai authorities to this country was supposed to be taking place. “But the turmoil in Thailand has meant that it has had to be postponed.” However, as soon as things settle down there, Bestbier is confident that the visit will promptly be rearranged. And, a top technical expert on SA fruit told FTW, once what is currently a draft protocol for exporting table grapes into Thailand is finally completed, a similar technical process between the NPPOs will need to follow – along with related diplomatic discussions. This will be designed to clear the other deciduous fruits – pome fruit (apples and pears) and stone fruit (apricots, nectarines and plums in the case of SA). CAPTION South African table grape exports to Thailand, such as this seedless red variety grown along the Orange River, are on the backburner for now.