New EU export regulations leave bitter taste for SA citrus growers
The citrus industry in South Africa is upset over newly introduced export regulations which it says are discriminatory and come at a cost to our local sector.
The SA Citrus Growers Association has been responding to new regulations imposed by the EU on citrus being exported to that region.
Among other things, citrus must now be pre-cooled for a period of up to 25 days before leaving our shores in order to prevent the spread of False Coddling Moths.
The association's Deon Joubert says the measures that they have been implementing for just over a century are proven effective with virtually no case reported.
READ: Nehawu, PSA to resume Sars strike on Tuesday
He says due to the new regulations, around R605 million worth of produce en route to Europe will now be destroyed.
"We have just over 100 years of exports to Europe and there has never been False Coddling Moths and for the last three years, South Africa has a very good track record of not having high counts of False Coddling Moths when they do inspections on our 800 000 tonnes that arrive.
"So we have had I think 14 or 15 in two consecutive years of interceptions. This is defiantly discriminatory and trying to hurt access for Southern African citrus to the EU That's why we are upset."
