Industry Calls For South African Citrus Exemption Under UK-EU Reset

Stringent controls on imported citrus are due to be readopted as the UK prepares to realign with European Union (EU) animal and plant health rules, causing concern among South African citrus exporters and the UK fresh produce trade. 

The industry is calling for a carve-out for South African citrus to avoid additional burden at the UK border, and the subsequent increase in industry costs being passed onto UK consumers, reports POLITICO. 

The UK is a popular destination for South African citrus exporters, whose supply enables UK importers to keep supermarket shelves stocked with citrus through the winter. Currently, South Africa can export citrus fruits, including lemons and oranges, to the UK without a plant health certificate and without inspection. 

However, the EU’s citrus controls, which have been tightened further in the wake of Brexit, will be readopted when the UK signs up to EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures as per the terms of the UK-EU ‘reset’ deal.

Exemption Calls

This would create a “huge additional burden at the border”, according to Nigel Jenney, CEO of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), the UK’s trade association for fresh produce.

“Ultimately, if it occurs, there are significant additional costs the industry will have to pay which sadly can only be passed on to the consumer,” Jenney told POLITICO. “It’s the same situation we’ve found ourselves in [currently] with Europe.” 

While nothing has been set in stone, Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the South African Citrus Growers’ Association, agreed that the UK-EU SPS deal on citrus imports would hit UK shoppers. 

“Unnecessarily restricting the supply of high quality and safe South African citrus would have an impact on citrus consumers in the UK,” he explained. “The UK would have to introduce carve-outs.

FPC is lobbying the UK government to negotiate an exemption for non-EU fresh produce entering the UK. This would enable the UK to set its own import regulations for products such as South African citrus.

“Otherwise we’ll find that, what we’ve saved on the one hand with trading with Europe, we’ve simply imposed that liability, responsibility and cost onto countries that have had no involvement in these negotiations,” said Jenney, who supports the SPS deal.

The UK produces approximately one third of its fruit and vegetable supply, while one third is imported from Europe, and the remaining third sourced from around the world. “So, in simple volume terms, why would we give preference only to Europe?” asked Jenney.

Under the SPS agreement, an exemption for non-EU citrus fruits is a possibility. The “common understanding” document, published at the UK-EU summit in May, indicates that the SPS deal can include a “short list of exceptions to dynamic alignment” subject to certain conditions.

When questioned about a potential exemption for citrus, a government spokesperson told POLITICO: "We are removing barriers to trade so UK businesses can sell more products in new markets around the world as part of our Plan for Change.”

South African Concern

Applying labels to South African citrus so that it cannot be re-exported to the EU is another solution up for discussion, according to a South African official.

“This is just an idea in terms of easy-to-control consignments destined for the UK to be identified which requires additional measures for the EU,” they told POLITICO.

South Africa has filed two dispute settlement procedures at the World Trade Organization against EU regulations, citing the rules as unscientific, discriminatory, and primarily protective of Spanish citrus growers. 

“The EU's current plant health measures on citrus black spot and false codling moth are unscientific,” pointed out Ntshabele. “These measures restrict trade unnecessarily.”

The EU maintains that its measures are necessary and scientifically accurate, noting interceptions of pests in recent consignments of South African citrus as examples. 

South African exporters argue that the EU’s required cooling treatments – to restrict the spread of pests and disease like false codling moth and citrus black spot – increases the risk of product spoilage, especially to organic citrus. 

Source: POLITICO