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South Africa: 'Erroneous' EU Citrus Grading Puts 70,000 Jobs, U.S.$800 Million Revenue at Risk
allAfrica, 7 August 2023
Citrus growers in South Africa are pleading with President Cyril Ramaphosa to challenge the European Union (EU) over its strict black spot laws after the EU said it stopped some… Read more »
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South Africa: Govt Takes On EU in Dispute Over Stringent New Regulations On Exporting Oranges
Daily Maverick, 21 August 2022
The South African citrus industry, which employs more than 140,000 workers and generates about R30-billion in export revenue, is under threat after the EU suddenly introduced… Read more »
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South Africa: More Foods Being Exported But New Growth Frontiers Needed
The Conversation Africa, 3 March 2023
South African agricultural exports were up for the third consecutive year in 2022, reflecting favourable production conditions and higher commodity prices. The export numbers for… Read more »
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Africa: South Africa's Farm Exports Are an Economic Lifeline - With Weak Spots
The Conversation Africa, 19 September 2022
International trade has been at the core of South Africa's agricultural progress since the early 2000s. Since 1994, the country has excelled in opening up new markets, as evidenced… Read more »
South African Citrus Farmers Want Help Against EU Export Rules
South African citrus farmers are pleading with the government to challenge the European Union (EU) over its strict black spot laws after the international body said it stopped some imports of South African fruit, according to News24, writes Jerry Chifamba for AllAfrica.
Black spot is a physiological plant disorder.
The Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa has called on the South African government "to work with the industry to put a stop to the citrus black spot fungal disease (CBS) regulations and fight for South African jobs and revenue".
This is not the first time t he EU's legislation affected South Africa's citrus trade.
In August 2022, the EU introduced legislation that required all produce from South Africa to undergo extreme cold treatment of between 0°C to -1°C for at least 16 days before export, to stave off false codling moth contamination. The new rules forced the industry to ban the export of some types of citrus, like blood oranges, Turkey, Salustiana, Benny, and Midknights, which cannot withstand those cold temperatures.
