Davies decries SA fruit growers’ decision over Spain
TRADE and Industry Minister Rob Davies regrets the decision by the South African citrus growing industry to terminate exporting their fruit through Spain because of objections against fruit with the black spot fungus.Mr Davies said at the end of a media conference focused on the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act on Friday that the decision was not a good outcome.It underscored the fact that Europe’s objections to South African fruit exports were not truly about plant health but about restricting South African exports in favour of its own producers. It was a protectionist measure.This decision by SA’s citrus-growing industry appears to be an attempt to fend off the European Union’s action on South African citrus fruit, by capitulating to the Spanish restrictions."The decision they have taken is to avoid a set of stronger sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions which would affect their market elsewhere," Mr Davies said.SA is the largest exporter of citrus fruit to Europe, representing...
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