The citrus industry in South Africa is preparing for reduced market access and more checks on exports to the UK under planned realigment with EU and new SPS agreement
The South African citrus industry is preparing for potentially less flexibility in exports to the UK under planned re-alignment with the EU on Maxiumum Residue Levels (MRLs).
The changes, which are expected to come in under the upcoming new Sanitary and Phystosanitary (SPS) agreement between the EU and UK, could see the UK readjust MRLs on some produce, if these had been adapted post-Brexit.
In a briefing statement, the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) of Southern Africa and Citrus Research International (CRI) have noted that if plans transpire “as anticipated”, citrus exports to the UK will have to comply with the same phytosanitary requirements as the EU, notably on citrus black spot (CBS), false codling moth (FCM), fruit flies, and citrus scab.
“Orchards with citrus destined for the UK will need to be registered under the EU phytosanitary system. In addition, the fruit will need to undergo orchard, packhouse and PPECB inspections and phytosanitary certification as required for export to EU,” the note read.
“Consequently, exporters will have less flexibility to redirect citrus fruit to the UK, and market access opportunities could be reduced for citrus fruit that was previously eligible for export to the UK without having to meet these EU phytosanitary requirements.”
The UK has taken a more risk-based assessment of MRLs on some produce imports since Brexit, departing in some areas from the EU’s strict precautionary principle approach.
“While we don’t expect the current divergence between the EU and GB MRLs applicable to citrus to have a significant impact if realigned, the greater challenge may arise in future from the EU Food and Feed Omnibus proposals,” the statement continued.
The EU is considering further reducing its tolerance to MRLs under the upcoming EU Food and Feed Omnibus policy framework, which aims to strengthen the single market, and minimise red tape for business within Europe.
“There is a real risk of some Member States pushing for the deletion of MRLs for all active substances no longer authorised for use within Europe, irrespective of the hazard classification,” the CGA-CRI note read.
“This means that if growers in the EU can no longer use the active, they are not in favour of growers in third countries who export to the EU continuing to use these crop protection tools.”
The warning comes as CEO of the UK’s Fresh Produce Consortium, Nigel Jenney, told the Fresh Produce Journal Podcast recently that importers should consider the effect of proposed new border checks on imports on customer expectations and delivery times.
“When and if we agree to the rules, many fresh produce items will move to what could well be 100 per cent checks at the UK border,” he said. “The cost to the supply chain would be absolutely enormous.
“Just imagine you want your container to leave that port tomorrow for immediate customer delivery, and you get told ‘come back in five days’. How will you manage that situation?”
The UK has said that it expects any new agreement to be in place by mid 2027.
