PPECB makes headway in black spot battle

Additional measures implemented by the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) and Department of Forestry and Fisheries to prevent citrus black spot from entering Europe on SA citrus are paying dividends. “If one takes into account that there were about 40 CBS interceptions in the EU last year, and there have only been five to date this year, then our systems have improved,” said PPECB CEO Stuart Symington. “But is has not been easy, and we have unfortunately now reached the fifth interception. This means that the market could close on us, or the EU could introduce further measures to prevent CBS from reaching its shores.” According to Symington, if exports of citrus to Europe had to stop, this could lead to a loss of billions of rands for the South African citrus growers and exporters, and a potential loss of R50m for the PPECB. “We have procured new laboratory equipment such as microscopes to try and detect CBS in its early stages on the rind of the citrus fruit.” Symington said a strict approach was being taken by the PPECB where entire consignments of fruit had unfortunately been rejected based on very small quantities of CBS being found in the relevant consignment. But that’s the nature of this beast – we cannot and will not take any chances.” He said citrus black spot would remain high on the agenda for the foreseeable future, and that the industry and government would need to work closely together to find ongoing solutions. “The EU takes about 45% of our citrus exports. If that market closed, we would have to find an alternative home for the fruit. Sending this fruit to our other markets would put those markets under enormous supply pressures. That is not a sustainable solution. So in all likelihood, much of that fruit would have to stay at home. ” Symington said that from a PPECB perspective, it was not all doom and gloom: maize exports had been extremely encouraging of late, and with the current favourable exchange rate for exports, export industries were booming. “Growers of agricultural export products are smiling this year – it is not often that all the variables are positively aligned. So long may it last!” INSERT & CAPTION Growers of agricultural export products are smiling this year. – Stuart Symington