The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) wishes to announce the establishment of a new market for the export of fresh citrus fruit from the Republic of South Africa to the Kingdom of Thailand with effect from 31 May 2012.
Negotiations between the two countries for the establishment of this market started 14 years ago. It was quite a lengthy process due to the fact that concluding bilateral phytosanitary market access protocols within the WTO-SPS rule-based framework is a slow process, and is highly dependent on the technical capacity of both parties.
This provides South Africa’s citrus growers with a further opportunity to participate in export markets for citrus fruit in addition to other citrus markets, which have already been established over the past years. The availability of an additional export market such as this, holds economic benefits in terms of the income generated, as well as the potential for further growth and job creation.
The citrus fruit covered by this export market are:
- Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) i.e. Navel and Valencia cultivars
- Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) i.e. Clementine and Satsuma cultivars
- Lemon (Citrus limon) i.e. Eureka cultivar
- Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) i.e. Marsh, Rose and Star Ruby cultivars.
Quarantine pests that are of current concern to the Kingdom of Thailand are listed in the importing conditions for this market. Among the requirements, there is a mandatory phytosanitary treatment (cold treatment) for false codling moth, Mediterranean fruit fly and Natal fruit fly that may be conducted pre-export (on land) or in transit. Other requirements for the market are listed in the “Notification of the Department of Agriculture (re: Conditions for Import of Citrus Fruit from the Republic of South Africa B.E. 2555 (2012)” (visit www.daff.gov.za >>Divisions>>Plant Health>>Export from South Africa>>Special export markets/programmes/directives).
Fruit types to be exported to the Kingdom of Thailand must be produced in and sourced from commercial orchards that have been registered with and pre-approved by the DAFF in the Republic of South Africa. Such orchards would be monitored by the DAFF to ensure that fruit is produced free from pests which are of quarantine concern to Thailand. In registered orchards, good agricultural practices must be implemented to ensure that the listed quarantine pests of concern to this market are managed effectively.
The DAFF would like to emphasise that citrus growers and/or exporters who are interested must comply with all the requirements as gazetted in Thailand on 30 May 2012, in the “Notification of the Department of Agriculture re: Conditions for Import of Citrus Fruit from the Republic of South Africa B.E. 2555 (2012)".
The following DAFF directorates are responsible for monitoring and maintaining this market and can be contacted for further details:
- Directorate: Plant Health, Contact person - Ms Rejoice Muavhi, tel: 012 319 6538 or e-mail: RejoiceM@daff.gov.za
- Directorate: Inspection Services, Contact person - Mr Ernest Phoku, tel: 012 319 8755 or e-mail: ErnestP@daff.gov.za
Enquiries:
Selby Bokaba
Chief Director: Stakeholder Relations and Communications
Tel: 012 319 7947
Cell: 082 778 0245
E-mail: Selbyb@daff.gov.za
