South Africa he moves his chip before they force him to do so. The world’s second-largest exporter of fresh oranges, which has flooded the European market with fruit infected with the fungus that causes the dreaded black spot, said: Shipments have been stopped as of this Friday citrus with Europe. Although detailed in the decision, he claims he did this to “cooperate” with Spanish producers: The African country’s northern regions, where the harvest is much further behind, are exempt from the suspension.
The South African Citrus Growers Association (CGA) and the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum (FPEF) announced that they will stop citrus exports to the European Union (EU) in just two days. ““The last day of inspection on oranges exported from South Africa to Europe will be September 15.” CGA said in a statement that the decision “allows the northern hemisphere to benefit from the current excellent market conditions.” Moreover, South African producers believe that the suspension of shipments “An incipient spirit of cooperation with European citrus growers, especially Spanish growers, South African industry now leaves it to manage demand in the northern hemisphere.
According to Carles Peris, secretary general of Unió Llauradora i Ramadera, South Africa’s decision to halt exports is a cover-up and ensures that repercussions are minimal. “The South African citrus industry has seen increased pressure. He knows very well how to seize fruits pests They are long, “Therefore, the European Commission is announcing the suspension of shipments before tightening the protocol,” he explains.
little effect
Peris insists that the stoppage will be on the 15th, taking into account that it takes 21 to 26 days for oranges to be transported from South Africa to Europe. The last shipment of fruit will arrive around October 10 or 12. “These dates will be freed up and the whole month of October will be covered, and they will make us see that they are good people,” says Unió’s general secretary. And this Campaign within the scope of the trade agreement signed in 2016 export The events of this country last from June 1 to November 30.
The impact of South Africa’s decision will be quite minimal, and what’s worse is that the export suspension does not cover all production regions of the country. Thus, and always according to their public statementsThe measure does not affect shipments from the Western and Northern Cape provinces, the African country’s citrus producers said. “These areas are the last ones, the ones that are furthest behind in terms of harvest. From here it will be possible to continue exporting to the EU so as not to anger the industry,” explains Carles Peris.
South Africa is fully aware that interventions on fruit infested with the fungus that causes black spot disease have increased this year (11 were recorded in August alone) and that complaints from the Spanish citrus sector have already reached the European Commission. ISocialist MP Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero wrote to the EC asking what measures it plans to take whether to block the entry of fruit from both South Africa and Egypt and whether origin controls should be strengthened. Rodríguez-Piñero also asks the EC whether it plans to suspend imports.
Castellón requests extension of cold treatment
South Africa has reacted to the pressure exerted by the Spanish citrus industry, but this measure is not enough for Castellón producers. Both Unió Llauradora and the Valencian Farmers’ Association (AVA-Asaja) demand that Europe tighten controls on origin, but also extend cold treatment to tangerines from this country (now only valid for oranges) in order to prevent the introduction of another pest that threatens the sector : false moth.