South Africa challenges EU on citrus export restrictions

South Africa has taken a preliminary step toward filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union (EU) over its treatment of citrus imports from the country, people familiar with the situation said. Two years ago, the EU imposed requirements for additional refrigeration of incoming fruit from South Africa, which lags behind only Spain as an exporter of the produce, to combat incidences of Citrus Black Spot, a fungal disease that leaves dark spots on fruit, and false codling moth, a pest found in South African orchards. Last year South Africa shipped $644 million of citrus such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit and mandarins to the EU, according to the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.