http://www.zestfruit.co.za
“A watershed moment for the South African citrus industry” – several citrus traders have used this phrase to describe the rule published by the United States this week to amend regulations regarding importation of citrus from the whole of South Africa into the United States.
Previously only citrus from the Western and Northern Cape, where citrus black spot does not occur, were allowed. Citrus black spot occurs in Florida but not in California and within the United States there has long been a recognition that citrus fruit is not a vector of the fungal disease.
With the rule published in the United States Federal Registry of 11 June, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has now “put its money where its mouth is”, as one industry representative puts it. It is not final yet, but there is a process to allow citrus from across South Africa and it is close to certain that the wording of the rule, as it currently stands, will be accepted.