interim measure
The oranges from South Africa bound for the European market must now meet a cold treatment mandate at origin to guard against new pests entering the union. This shift aims to prevent the arrival of threats similar to past pests like cotton. Authorities and agricultural groups view the regulatory change as a success, though some events marked its early days with tension.
When did the most troubling episode occur? The South African government announced in August that it had reached a consensus to market unprocessed citrus, arguing that the obligation had not yet taken effect while ships travel toward the European Union. This move stirred debate within the industry. Cristóbal Aguado, president of AVA-Asaja, called it a potential scandal. The situation was later echoed in the European Parliament by socialist member Inmaculada Rodríguez Piñero, who highlighted the EU perspective.
The European Food Safety Authority and officials from the European Commission clarified that no formal agreement was reached with South Africa about applying cold treatment to unsuitable orange batches. Yet questions lingered as some fruit appeared on the market. EU representatives noted that member states decided to apply a treatment at the destination ports to protect fruit health and ensure phytosanitary security. Officials also indicated that treatment specifications can change as inspectors review available information from member states.
South Africa faced a temporary, exceptional approach described as a stopgap. It was acknowledged by Rodríguez Piñero that this special measure could only be used temporarily to move large volumes of citrus that were stuck at ports before the new rules fully take effect. The regulation set to begin on 14 July was referenced as the guiding framework for future shipments.
In communications from the EU side, South Africa was urged to comply fully with the forthcoming phytosanitary requirements, with assurances that future shipments must adhere to new standards. Since the cold-treatment obligation was ratified, South Africa has criticized the EU stance at the World Trade Organization, arguing that the measure resembles protectionism among Europe’s citrus-producing countries. These criticisms followed years of adjustments to shipments and prior assessments from European food safety authorities warning about the need for treatment due to concerns about South African consignments.
Tangerine concerns persist
Cold treatment represents a significant advance in pest control for South Africa and neighboring regions, but it does not address every issue. The citrus industry, particularly in Castellón, remains focused on tangerines, which do not require cold processing. The European authorities clarified that additional phytosanitary certificates for tangerines from South Africa should reference the relevant production facility codes and requirements, ensuring proper traceability and compliance.