"The main point is that we are improving, as the past season saw a similar volume of citrus fruit going through Rotterdam as the previous year and in 2013 we had 30 interceptions, in 2014 only 5 were cases were found. I can safely say that the Dutch NPPO and their inspection arm the KCB did us no favours and were strict but fair. That is all South Africa can and should expect and the Dutch service, which is highly regarded worldwide, were open and this revealed that the amount of fruit with CBS symptoms have significantly reduced," explains Joubert.
He goes on to say that where there are concerns is in the south of Europe where there are large inconsistencies in sampling procedures and methodology between importing 3rd countries. "We think that there may be areas in Spain, Italy and France with a secondary agenda. That is a great pity as it endangers the continued export of SA citrus to these regions. You would expect consistency on inspection and testing procedures with all importing countries and if you analyse how citrus products were treated on entry, it seemed SA was singled out for much more attention than other countries."
Joubert explains that the issue is Phytosanitary, which at its heart is directed to protecting the spread of diseases between plants. In Spain as an example, we noted 5 or 6 interceptions but no CBS was found upon inspection at the EU border resulting in Asymtomatic fruit [fruit without symptoms]. "We had instances where fruit was cleared at the border sold and distributed and then a report of CBS having been found from a laboratory testing the “asympomatic fruit being filed". This is highly inconsistent as citrus fruit from other importing countries were not subjected to this," said Joubert.
Joubert's concern is that South Africa seems to have been treated fairly and in similar fashion along with other 3rd country imports on citrus in the UK, Holland and Germany but in Spain they really came under scrutiny. This gives rise to unnecessary speculation that its more of a witch hunt than risk mitigation.
"In Rotterdam we had 4700 phytos presented and 5 interceptions and in the UK 2750 and one interception, in Spain it was 400 with 10 interceptions, this is very inconsistent."
Joubert: "If you look at the EFSA pest risk assessment on CBS they moot the risk of CBS spreading unlikely but a chance never the less. Academic opinion and research in SA, the US, Australia, Argentina and Brazil does not agree [it underscores their view that the fruit cannot spread the disease - be a pathway and cannot establish in a the Mediterranean climate. This is supported by the fact that although surrounded by CBS areas in South Africa we do not have CBS in the Western Cape, which has a Mediterranean climate similar to Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece. This climate does not have the ability to support or sustain the fungus."
"The situation now is very serious as the sudden escalating interceptions in the Southern EU member states can effectively halt the SA export campaign. So although we may have diverting views on science we should at least find practical agreement, focus on practical risk mitigation to sustain the trade to the southern member states. Without that the fruit will stop coming to southern Europe, which would even have a more detrimental effect on the citrus growers and packers there. These growers and packers traditionally use the SA citrus fruit during their summer months to keep their pack houses and programs to multiples going.
Joubert explains that the Risk management system in SA is very comprehensive and includes withdrawals of orchard found with CBS [voluntarily by growers and DAFF inspections], comprehensive spraying and thorough inspections in the orchard, pack house and before export. Only one CBS interception of the entire SA import program in 2014 were found to be containing a viable CBS fungus. This was agreed by DG Sanco to be the very least condition for the CBS lesion to be able to infect. This shows us that the hard and dedicated work in SA has succeeded in mitigating the risk of CBS in the EU by destroying CBS to a virtual nil status.
"If you have 650,000 tons arriving and only one fruit found to have a viable culture this is really effective risk mitigation."
The South African CBS experts have requested to be allowed to visit the institutions where the fruit were inspected and tested. Last year they were invited into the inspection facilities in Holland and Germany and those according to Joubert were exemplary. "There is no issue there but unfortunately in Spain and Italy we were refused entry and this casts unnecessary doubt on the procedures and methodology so we have asked to be allowed to visit when we are in Europe in the next two weeks. This followed an invitation from DG Sanco in 2014 to visit all institutions where CBS strikes are recorded as DG Sanco wanted the SA export fraternity and DAFF to be fully satisfied with the validity of CBS interception reports in the EU. So this was the case in Holland and Germany and hopefully we can get the rest done soon and be in a position to analyse all data and learn as much as possible to address our RMS in SA and be even better in 2015."
If a practical solution cannot be found SA will need to consider the risk of sending citrus to these southern EU markets. It is not something SA wishes to do as selective marketing is sub optimal but if the choice is to forfeit 15% of South African volumes to sustain the rest of the EU market, it may be a necessary consideration. The growers have a Summit on 11 and 12th March in South Africa where they can decide how to proceed.
"I think the Spanish austerity is horrific in especially the rural areas of the country, but CBS is not the reason for this nor will it be the solution, if it no longer is supplied there. We are convinced that the South African and Spanish citrus growers are complementary in providing fruit of exemplary quality to the consumers year round in a very competitive market. If the South African citrus is kept out of Spain it will leave those regions in a even more difficult position with less work," explains Joubert.
In the US they have lifted the ban on fruit with CBS moving from Florida to California due to the research findings on CBS. "There is not a stronger grower lobby organisation anywhere in the world than the Californian citrus growers and if they were convinced that CBS on citrus from Florida is not a threat, it must count for a lot," concludes Joubert.
For more information:
Deon JoubertCGA
Telephone +27 21 976 58 60
Email: deonj@cga.co.za