SA exporters lose millions as Thailand ban remains in place

A delay in the lifting of the Thailand ban on the importation of SA grapes and deciduous fruits is costing South Africa’s fruit exporters millions of rand. Thai authorities appear to be taking their time concluding the plant risk analyses (PRAs) for the various commodities before concluding protocols on their importation. This delay, according to a study last year by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy in the Western Cape (the main supplier area of the fruits), is causing export losses estimated at R150 million a year. The ban was imposed because of a technical error in SA’s documentation submitted to the Thailand authorities after that country joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2008. And, instead of giving SA a window to correct this mistake, Thailand slapped a unilateral ban on the fruits – a ban that has dragged on for some four years. However, according to Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers Association (CGA), an application for clearance, made at the same time as the restrictions on the other fruit types was imposed, was accepted – with SA’ citrus fruits fulfilling the necessary phytosanitary conditions. For grapes and deciduous fruits, however, once again getting import clearance has proved to be a complicated issue, and one involving multidepartmental government groups, SA and Thailand ambassadorial staff and representatives of the SA fruit industry. Currently, the Thai position is that SA has to await its turn for the necessary plant risk analyses to be conducted. This has led to major cash losses for growers, job losses in the industry and concomitant socio-economic problems in the communities serving the fruit industry.