Cabinet worried about economic impact of EU restrictions on SA citrus exports
The European Union placed strict measures on SA amid claims that the citrus black spot disease was affecting domestic sales in the region.
Crates of oranges. Wikimedia Commons/Dietmar Rabich
JOHANNESBURG - Cabinet says it’s worried about the economic impact of the stringent restrictions on South Africa’s citrus exports.
This after the European Union placed strict measures on SA amid claims that the citrus black spot disease was affecting domestic sales in the region.
South Africa, which is the world’s second-largest exporter of citrus, has now approached the World Trade Organisation to mediate the dispute.
While not an outright ban, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that the restrictions were crippling SA's local economy.
"South Africa’s industry provides direct employment for over 140,000 people in rural South Africa and thus supporting over 1.5 million people. The measures imposed by the EU result in significant costs for the SA citrus industry, which are estimated at R2 billion (US$110 million) per year."