Citrus fruit from South Africa

Subject: Citrus fruit from South Africa

The Commission has pointed out that the concession granted to oranges under the European Union- Southern African Development Community Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-SADC EPA) involves a gradual reduction over 10 years of the import tariffs applied every year for a limited period of time.

Pursuant to Article 34 of the EU-SADC EPA, the Commission may introduce safeguard measures if the extended liberalisation period leads to imports of citrus fruit from South Africa rising to such a point that this causes or threatens to cause market disturbances.

The Commission recently agreed to conduct a detailed study to assess properly the impact these preferential agreements are having on the EU’s citrus fruit market.

Ten thousand hectares of mandarin groves have been planted in South Africa, with Europe the chief destination for their fruit. The amount of land set aside for orange groves in Egypt is also on the rise.

As reported already by professional groups in the sector, citrus fruit in non-EU countries is treated with certain active materials that are banned in Europe 1 .

This being so:

1. Will the Commission provide information on the impact of these preferential agreements on the EU citrus-fruit industry, both now and in the future, bearing in mind too the figures for the increase in the number of hectares earmarked for their cultivation in non-EU countries?

2. How will the Commission combat the use of substances that are banned in the European Union?

1 http://italiafruit.net/DettaglioNews/49113/dallestero/agrumi-dai-paesi-terzi-la-spagna-batte-i-pugni-a-bruxelles

Answer given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the European Commission

(22 July 2020)

In line with its Better Regulation Agenda, the Commission systematically carries out ex-post evaluations of EU preferential trade agreements, once they have been implemented for a sufficient period of time to allow for such an analysis. These evaluations are made public (2) and they cover the full scope of the agreements, which in most cases is not limited to trade in goods. Due to the broad scope these evaluations cannot cover a detailed analysis of the impact of the different trade agreements on each economic sector in the EU and abroad, such as the citrus fruit sector. However, the Commission closely monitors citrus trade developments and the situation on the EU citrus market. A dashboard summarising the main trends of the EU production and trade data for the citrus fruit sector is regularly updated and available on the Commission website (3). Even though the volume of imports of citrus fruits from partners benefitting from preferential agreements increased by 14% during last five years, a significant share of these imports come counter-cyclically from South Africa (4), thereby contributing to the availability of supplies on the EU market throughout the year.

The safety of European consumers is a priority for the Commission. The EU legislation regulating pesticide residues (5) is based on solid scientific assessments and ensures that consumers are comprehensively protected and enjoy a year-round supply of a large selection of safe food. Maximum residue levels for pesticides apply equally to food produced in the EU and imported from non-EU countries, in line with the general principle that all food products placed on the market in the EU must comply with EU food safety standards, regardless of their origin.

⋅1∙ http://italiafruit.net/DettaglioNews/49113/dallestero/agrumi-dai-paesi-terzi-la-spagna-batte-i-pugni-a-bruxelles

⋅2∙ https://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/policy-making/analysis/policy-evaluation/ ex-post-evaluations/

⋅3∙ https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/food-farming-fisheries/farming/documents/citrus-dashboard_en.pdf

⋅4∙ In 2019, share of South Africa on imports from preferential partners and on total imports was 42% and 34%, respectively.

⋅5∙ Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of

plant and animal origin, OJ L 70, 16.3.2005, p. 1.










| | )Producers in third countries face production conditions and pest pressures different from those in the EU, which might require the use of different pesticides. The Commission will look comprehensively at the use of pesticides in agriculture in the Farm to Fork Strategy adopted by the communication on 20 May 2020 (6) as one of the key initiatives under the European Green Deal (7). In particular, the Commission will take additional action to reduce the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50% and the use of more hazardous pesticides by 50% by 2030. Moreover, the Commission will also revise the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, enhance provisions on integrated pest management (IPM) and promote greater use of safe alternative ways of protecting harvests from pests and diseases.

⋅6∙ COM(2020) 381 final.

⋅7∙ COM(2019) 640 final.