South Africa's parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PPCAFF) on Friday said an EU ban on imports of South African citrus products is a "major concern."
The committee said the ban "poses a threat" to the country's socio-economic development and that of the region.
The ban followed alleged reports about citrus "black spot" that was found in citrus fruit cargos from South Africa to European markets this year.
This led to a sudden decision by the EU to ban imports of citrus from South Africa. Citrus "black spot" is a fungal disease that could infect local crops.
"This untimely decision has the potential to impact negatively on the industry in terms of both the income and job losses," committee Chairperson Lulu Johnson said in a statement.
"As much as we believe that each party has the obligation to act in the best for its economy, as the committee we strongly believe that it is through the continuous negotiations that an amicable solution favourable to both countries, especially their producers and consumers, can be found before this causes more unexpected harm," said Johnson.
South Africa's future citrus exports to Europe will be determined by a report on black-spot disease to be released by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) at the end of next month.
Johnson said his committee is calling for "urgent closer" cooperation between the South African government and their European counterparts to further discuss the issue on scientific evidence and reconsider the decision while working in collaboration with the affected citrus producers in the industry to take proper control measures to ensure disease-free in the identified regions.
The committee urged the department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, together with the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB), to find a way of eliminating the possible development of the citrus black spot, "and equally appeal to the EU to open doors for negotiations," he added.
The South Africa's citrus industry maintains that citrus black spot poses no risk either to consumers or to orchards in EU countries.
