Question NW56 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
18 March 2024 - NW56
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
(1)What is the latest update on the referral made by the Republic to the World Trade Organisation on 27 July 2022 concerning the European Union's (EU) import restrictions on South African citrus fruit due to false codling moth (FCM); (2) if no progress has been made since the referral, what actions are being taken to follow up on the matter and update farmers in this regard; (3) on what date (a) does she envisage following up on the matter and (b) will she update the farming community who export to the EU; (4) what (a) have been the cost implications for the farmers exporting to the EU since the implementation of the FCM treatment measures and (b) has the Government done to alleviate the costs implications? NW57E
Reply:
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT:
1. South Africa (the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) continued with the consultation process at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in September 2022. This is a technical process where South Africa poses technical questions regarding the False Coding Moth (FCM) conditions to the European Union (EU). South Africa did not close dialogue with the EU and several engagements between South African and European counterparts continued throughout 2023 on technical as well as political levels up to the level of the Presidency.
2. Since no amicable resolutions were achieved, South Africa is considering to continue with the WTO dispute resolution process.
(3)(a) The government intends to lodge a dispute at the WTO. The consultation process and preparatory work has been done between government and the industry. The WTO case could not continue yet as the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) had to first take place from 26 to 29 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. After this meeting the relevant Departments will reflect back on the possible options to that take matter further.
(3)(b) DALRRD is in continuous discussions with the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) and the Fresh Produce Exporters' Forum (FPEF) who represent the majority of citrus export producers.
(4)(a)(b) The actual cost implications would be known by the Citrus Growers Association (CGA), as government does not have access to this information. The database that is being utilised by International Trade Promotion does not have the 2023 Trade data available.