Minister vows action to avert another EU citrus ban

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has vowed to fight tooth and nail to avert a possible European ban on citrus imports from South Africa.

This came after oranges contaminated with black spot fungus were found in a shipment to the Netherlands.

The citrus industry is a key employer in the Eastern Cape, particularly the Gamtoos and Sundays River Valley where a large percentage of the produce is for the export market.

Yesterday, Davies told a media briefing in Cape Town that if decisions were taken that keep fruit out of an important market and had implications for jobs, they would not hesitate to use whatever tools available to defend the country's interests.

He said he suspected Europe's stance was motivated more by protectionist tendencies than true concerns over the fungus spreading to continental orchards.

The fungus is harmless to human