{The European Union (EU) is preparing a ban on South African citrus imports that could take orange juice off Europe’s breakfast tables next summer and sour efforts in Brussels to broaden trade with Africa’s biggest economy.}
The move follows the interception of 35 citrus shipments this year from Europe’s chief summer supplier that were contaminated with the fungal black spot disease, which growers in southern Europe fear could take hold in their citrus groves.
In response, the European Commission, the EU executive, was drawing up plans for a ban that could be adopted by European governments by the end of November, said a person with knowledge of the plan who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another person close to the matter said EU trade chief Karel de Gucht told South African officials during a visit to Johannesburg this week that the contaminated shipments were “serious and problematic”, and that a response was needed.
South Africa exports about 600,000 tonnes of citrus fruit — mainly oranges, lemons, limes and tangerines — to the EU each year worth about €1bn. It is the main source of orange juice drunk by consumers in Britain, Germany and France during the European summer months.
The dispute comes at a sensitive time because the EU is seeking South Africa’s support to unlock stalled trade deals with sub-Saharan Africa.
During negotiations in South Africa this week, EU officials offered to improve the terms of a bilateral free-trade deal dating from 1999 by granting South African sugar farmers duty-free access to Europe for the first time.
For now the planned citrus ban would be largely symbolic, as it would only apply to this year’s South African citrus harvest, which ended in October, meaning EU imports have already stopped.
But the bloc’s food safety watchdog is analysing the situation and if its studies show the disease has a risk of taking hold in Europe’s estimated 500,000ha of citrus groves, the EU could extend the ban.
Citrus Growers Association CEO Justin Chadwick warned the commission against a ban.
“Global experts have confirmed that citrus black spot is not a risk, so a ban would seem unnecessary,” he said.
Bdlive.com
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