Urgent review of South Africa's citrus black spot and Thaumatotibia leucotreta control programmes

13.6.2018

Question for written answer E-003216-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Clara Eugenia Aguilera García (S&D)

Following the sharp increase in the number of reported instances of citrus black spot and the Thaumatotibia leucotreta moth in Europe during the last marketing year, South Africa undertook to review its blight and pest control programmes. The changes made have done nothing to restore trust, however. Firstly, the South African Ministry of Agriculture has stopped supervising both programmes. In addition, the plant health measures, such as ‘false’ cold treatment, it takes in connection with its shipments to Europe are not consistent with international regulations.

Leading citrus fruit producers such as China, the US, and Japan require European exporters to take a comprehensive set of measures that are scrutinised and approved by the authorities, including the strict use of 22 days’ cold treatment. South Africa also meets these requirements when exporting to the aforementioned countries.

1. Why is the Commission allowing South African producers who export to the EU to opt for plant health measures of questionable effectiveness, thereby running the risk of blights and pests spreading to the Union?

2. What is the justification for this favourable treatment of South African exporters when European exporters are forced to take comprehensive measures approved by the authorities?