Question NW513 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
12 September 2019 - NW513
Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What total number of agricultural export protocols are outstanding, (b) from which dates have the protocols been outstanding, (c) why is each protocol still outstanding and (d) by what date is each outstanding protocol expected to be finalized?
Reply:
Response to Parliamentary Question |
|
|
QUESTION NO.: |
513/NW1506E |
|
TO: |
MINISTER |
|
FROM: |
DIRECTOR-GENERAL |
|
SUBJECT: |
QUESTION 513/NW1506E FOR WRITTEN REPLY BY MRS A STEYN (DA) TO THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
|
CLASSIFICATION: |
CONFIDENTIAL |
An export protocol is located at the end stage of a continuum of activities aimed at securing market access. An export protocol can only be concluded once the trade negotiations are finalised. At any given stage there are trade negotiations with trading partners and these are invariably at different stages of advancement within the market access continuum. Some market access requests for some commodities are at questionnaire (initial) stage, others are at health certification (final) stage. However, there are requests where negotiations have stalled. Trade negotiations on sanitary and phytosanitary matters do not unfold in a straight-line trajectory as there is consistent exchange of notes on scientific and technical facets. Moreover, any projected or assumed pathway or timeframe may be impeded, interrupted or curtailed by a range of factors. The table provided responds to questions 1 (a) (b) (c).
The dates given in this response are dependent vary depending on the complexity of the matter, and therefore the time it takes for the importing country to complete its risk analysis processes. For example the request to export beef to the USA had been going through a “Rule Making Process” of the USA for almost 10 years and was not even concluded when South Africa reported its 2011 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in KZN; following this South Africa was told to start the process from beginning.
With negotiations, the department sends a reminder shortly after the initial communication, if there is no response from the trade partner. If after one (or two) reminders there is still no response, the file is closed unless there is an indication of interest from the local industry.
Export Protocols
|
Country |
Commodity Protocol outstanding |
From which dates have the protocols been outstanding (application date) |
Why is each protocol still outstanding |
By what date is each outstanding protocol expected to be finalised? |
|
QUESTIONNAIRES |
||||
|
Australia |
Ruminant semen and embryos |
April 2015 |
Submitted FMD questionnaire response 20 April 2015. Australia has informed us on 23 July 2015 that they will not be able to evaluate the information for the next year, as resources had already been allocated elsewhere. Awaiting a response from Australia |
Unknown |
|
Indonesia |
Beef |
January 2016 |
Submitted questionnaire response on 29 January 2016. VPH still to submit dossiers on the establishments. Waiting for a response from Indonesia. |
Unknown |
|
Israel |
Beef |
May 2010 |
Beef questionnaire sent to Israel in May 2010. On 28 October 2015 Israel informed us that information is too old and process will only be restarted if there is interest from Israeli importers. Waiting for confirmation from Israel that there is Israeli interest. |
Unknown |
|
Japan |
Beef |
December 2015 |
Received questionnaire for completion. However, during prioritisation workshop with industry it was decided that it is an unlikely market, so it is on hold unless re-prioritised. |
Unknown |
|
Philippines |
Beef |
June 2016 |
Questionnaire in process of being completed. |
Unknown |
|
Singapore |
Beef |
April 2015 |
Singapore has indicated that they cannot allow importation from a country without negligible risk status for BSE. In January 2019, Singapore sent updated import requirements for BSE undetermined risk status countries. Singapore has expressed an interest in an inspection visit. However, South Africa has lost its OIE recognised Foot and Mouth Disease status and therefore, South Africa cannot host Singapore for the export of beef until the FMD free status has been regained. |
Unknown |
|
Lamb |
Questionnaire was received. Was not prioritised at workshop with industry. |
Unknown |
||
|
Sri Lanka |
Beef |
August 2015 |
Sri Lanka indicated that they cannot import from a country without BSE negligible risk. |
Unknown |
|
Taiwan |
Beef |
July 2014 |
Sent information to Taiwan regarding the South Africa BSE status to check whether they would consider importing beef. Awaiting a response. |
Unknown |
|
Thailand |
Beef |
July 2017 |
Sent information on the FMD and BSE status of South Africa on 27 July 2017. Still awaiting a response. |
Unknown |
|
Vietnam |
Beef |
March 2015 |
Completed questionnaire submitted on 7 June 2016. Further information was requested which was sent on 17 March 2017. Awaiting a response. |
Unknown |
|
INSPECTION VISITS |
||||
|
Russia |
Beef and mutton |
March 2015 |
Inspection visit took place in March 2015. Inspection report indicated many concerns. South Africa cannot comply with Russia’s import requirements. |
Unknown |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Beef and mutton |
July 2016 |
Questionnaire response was submitted on 15 July 2016. An amended format of the questionnaire was requested. This was completed in 2017. Inspection visit to be arranged. Proposed dates for March 2017. The inspection visit had to be delayed due to lack of human resources. Thereafter, South Africa lost its Foot and Mouth Disease free status |
Unknown |
|
VETERINARY HEALTH CERTIFICATE NEGOTIATIONS |
||||
|
Malaysia |
Beef |
September 2014 |
Inspection visit took place in October 2017. A VHC was prepared according to the requirements received from the Malaysia Veterinary Authority and is awaiting inputs from management. VHC must then be circulated to the Provincial Veterinary Services and can then be proposed to Malaysia for negotiation. |
Unknown |
|
Brazil |
Bovine semen and embryos and ovine semen |
June 2016 |
Proposed veterinary health certificates were submitted to Brazil for negotiation in 2017. A response requesting amendments was received on 22 March 2018. Preparing the amendments. |
Expect to send amended VHCs to Brazil by the end of 2019. |
|
Argentina |
Bovine semen and embryos |
March 2018 |
Proposed veterinary health certificates on 16 July 2018. Received a request for amendments on 2 August 2018. Preparing the amendments. |
Expect to send amended VHCs to Argentina by the end of 2019. |
|
MARKET ACCESS NEGOTIATIONS FOR PLANT AND PLANT PRODUCTS |
||||
|
China |
Pears |
2008 |
The draft Protocol was received from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China on 26 July 2019 and is being evaluated; upon confirmation of the whether South Africa is in a position to comply with the protocol, it will be taken through a consultation process with Industry. |
Unknown |
|
China |
Soyabean |
14 February 2019 |
Additional information on certain pests of concern had been requested by China; South Africa is currently compiling the required additional technical information. |
Unknown |
|
Japan |
Avocado |
17 December 2014 |
The draft Protocol and annexes with comments from MAFF were received in April 2019; feedback is being finalised. |
Possibly by the end of September 2019, depending on when the response is completed and sent , and on feedback from Japan |
|
Mexico |
Table grapes |
February 2006 |
Research on pest surveillance still needs to be conducted as requested by Mexico for one of the quarantine pests which occurs in the Table grape production areas of SA. |
Unknown |
|
Philippines |
Citrus |
August 2008 |
Feedback on the draft Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) report, draft phytosanitary requirements and proposed mitigation treatment measures for citrus fruits was provided to the Philippines on 11 July 2019. |
Unknown |
|
Taiwan |
Avocado |
November 2015 |
Additional information on certain pests of concern had been requested by The Taiwanese National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) Bureau of Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ); the relevant technical experts in SA are currently collating the information. |
Unknown |
|
Thailand |
Apples |
05 August 2016 |
Feedback on the pest list of Apples from South Africa to be exported to the Kingdom of Thailand had been communicated to Thailand on 24 May 2019. |
Unknown |
|
South Korea |
Table grapes |
September 2011 |
Additional information on specific risk management measures on listed quarantine pests of concern had been requested by the Republic of Korea in March 2019; research/ surveillance still need to be conducted in SA. |
Unknown |
|
USA |
Avocado |
23 July 2008 |
Mitigation measures for pests of concern were communicated in a letter of response to the USDA-APHIS on 28 June 2019. |
Unknown |
|
USA |
Maize/ corn seed |
12 June 2012 |
Additional information on specific risk management measures on listed quarantine pest of concern had been communicated on 17 May 2018; feedback is awaited from the USA. |
Unknown |