Subject: European market in citrus fruit and the Phyllosticta citricarpa pest
Last August, the EU detected the quarantine pest Phyllosticta citricarpa (black spot) in a further 11 shipments of citrus fruits from South Africa. This means that the number of citrus fruit shipments from South Africa intercepted by the EU owing to the presence of the fungus Phyllosticta citricarpa thus far in 2023 has risen to 33.
Two years ago, the Commission placed a temporary ban on citrus fruit from Argentina, having detected multiple shipments infected with this fungus, posing a high risk of spreading across the European Union.
Given that South Africa is the main exporter of citrus fruit to the European Union and given that the South African citrus producers’ association has publicly said that until 2027 South Africa will not have sufficient cold transport capacity, which is the only proven means of preventing the export of pests, I should like to ask the following questions:
1. What measures does the Commission intend to take to prevent the further arrival of consignments infected with the quarantine pest Phyllosticta citricarpa?
2. Why does it not impose the same obligations on South Africa as it does within the Single Market?
3. Why does the Commission choose to maintain the trade flows with South Africa open despite the numerous scandals?
Submitted: 27.9.2023
Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission (28 November 2023)
With Regulation (EU) 2022/632 (1) the Commission has already put in place temporary strict measures for imports of citrus fruits from Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.
According to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (2) on official controls, citrus fruits are subject to 100% documentary control. In addition, according to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 (3) on frequency rates, citrus fruits are subject to 100% identity and physical checks at the entry point.
There are no requirements for the single market as regards Phyllosticta citricarpa as the pest is absent from the EU territory. According to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 (4), Member States are required to carry out annual surveys for the pest.
The Commission discusses and agrees with Member States every month at the Standing Committee of Plant Animals Food and Feed the way forward in relation to any detected non-compliances with the applicable rules of the relevant imported goods.
In addition, an annual evaluation for the import of citrus fruits is carried out at the end of the trade season.
1 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R0632&qid=1696924764915
2 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/625/oj
3 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R2389&qid=1696924833769
4 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02016R2031-20191214