South Africa to probe citrus black spot #SA

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries has launched an investigation to determine the
causes of the presence of Citrus Black Spot (CBS)
discovered on a consignment of exported lemons to the
European Union (EU).
Last week, the Netherlands' phytosanitary authorities
confirmed that laboratory tests had shown that CBS was
present in a consignment of South African lemons exported
to the EU.
The department's Chief Director: Stakeholder Relations and
Communications, Makenosi Maroo, said they were notified
about the latest detection of the CBS through the EU
EUROPHYT notification system, last Friday.
"An investigation has been launched by the department in
collaboration with the industry to determine the possible
causes for the presence of CBS in this fruit.
"Based on the findings, remedial measures will be
evaluated and implemented, as appropriate, to prevent
reoccurrence. As per previous agreement with the EU, all
relevant information will be reported to the EU.
Maroo said South Africa has gone to great lengths and
expense to ensure compliance with EU requirements
through its comprehensive CBS risk management system.
She said the intercepted part of the consignment in question
was refused entry into the EU territory.
This is the first time, this year that CBS, a quarantine pest
for the EU, has been detected in fruit entering the EU from
South Africa. "As a department, we've already notified the
producer and withdrew the production unit in question from
further exports to the EU in the current season. "Other fruit
types from that production unit already in the export
pipeline have also been identified and will be dealt with
accordingly," she said. Maroo said the risk management
system was further strengthened for the current export
season based on detailed investigations of all CBS non-
compliances reported in the EU in 2013.
She said all consignments of citrus entering the EU from
Thursday, onwards must comply with the new EU measures
and associated certification required by the EU regarding
CBS, as published in the EU, earlier this month.
The new measures include additional pre-export sampling
and inspection requirements. All "Valencia" oranges must
have been subject to a chemical symptom expression test.
"Strengthening and strict implementation of risk
management processes for CBS will continue in order to
ensure that trade with the EU continues. The department is
committed to compliance with these import measures and
to maintaining open channels of communication with the
EU," she said. Maroo said as the EU remains an important
market for South African citrus; full compliance with the
EU's import requirements is critical.