Imports of citrus fruit from South Africa are breaching the EU’s plant health rules

Subject: Imports of citrus fruit from South Africa are breaching the EU’s plant health rules

Agricultural organisations in the EU have reported that imports of citrus fruits from South Africa containing harmful organisms have tripled since 2022. In the first half of 2022, 12 consignments of citrus fruit were intercepted that were contaminated with Phyllosticta citricarpa, a fungus that causes citrus black spot disease. Some 37 consignments contaminated with the fungus have been detected so far this year1.

The current EU rules on plant health aim to protect European agriculture and forestry by preventing the entry and spread of pests and diseases. Despite this, however, the Commission continues to allow products to enter the EU from countries that repeatedly fail to comply with plant health requirements, putting the European agricultural sector and food safety in the EU at risk.

In light of the above:

1. What steps does the Commission propose to put an end to this situation? Will imports be temporarily suspended from countries – such as South Africa – that cannot guarantee they have taken the plant health measures requested by the EU?

2. Given the failure to control citrus fruit pests in countries outside the EU, how can EU citizens be assured that the non-EU citrus fruit they consume in their homes does not pose a risk to their health?

Submitted: 14.9.2023

1 https://www.abc.es/espana/comunidad-valenciana/exigen-suspender-importaciones-citricos-sudafrica-presencia-mancha-20230911170230-nt.html.

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission (7 November 2023)

Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (2) has import measures in place for several quarantine pests related to citrus fruits, including measures for Phyllosticta citricarpa (citrus black spot).

Regulation (EU) 2022/632 (3) sets out temporary import measures for citrus black spot concerning citrus fruits from Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe.

The Commission has had several exchanges with South Africa over the course of the season, urging for immediate action including the suspension of trade.

Subsequently, the Citrus Growers’ Association of South Africa announced in the news the suspension of trade starting from 15 September 2023.

The Commission will discuss the imports of citrus fruits with the Member States at the Standing Committee for Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (4) after the end of the current season, to decide on the way forward ahead of the following season.

Citrus fruit pests such as Phyllosticta citricarpa pose risks to plant health but do not present a risk to human health. Food imported to the EU must, amongst other requirements, meet the EU import requirements and must always be safe for human health: such food must be compliant with the maximum residue levels for pesticides established in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (5) which apply to both domestic and imported food.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://www.abc.es/espana/comunidad-valenciana/exigen-suspender-importaciones-citricos-sudafrica-presencia-mancha-20230911170230-nt.html.

2 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02019R2072-20230809&qid=1695905933961

3 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R0632&qid=1695906042708

4 ∙ ⸱ https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/comitology-register/screen/committees/C20400/consult?lang=en

5 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2005/396/oj