Changes to South African fruit import regulations in India and a review of China's cold treatment protocol for South African lemons bode well for increased South African trade to Asia.
A South African delegation has emerged from a recent visit to India with news that the acceptance of in-transit cold treatment for South African fruit shipments by the Indian authorities is imminent.
At the same time, the Citrus Growers Association’s (CGA) Justin Chadwick has confirmed that the industry is in the process of getting China's cold-treatment protocol for lemons reviewed.
China has accepted that South African lemons are not a host to false-codling moth. South Africa also has data to prove that neither are green lemons a host to fruit-fly.
Chadwick says China's current cold-treatment protocol stops South Africa from shipping lemons to the People's Republic, yet there is strong demand for South African lemons there and a good opportunity to extend shipments.
Meanwhile, he says the acceptance of in-transit cold treatment for South African fruit shipments to India will benefit a number of fruit categories.
“After two successful pilot shipments of both pears and oranges, the final acceptance to allow in-transit cold treatment is imminent,” the CGA said in a report to growers. “Apple and grapefruit trial shipments have also been conducted, and once two such trials have been successfully cleared, they too could be granted clearance for in-transit treatment.”
