South Africa Requests Dispute Consultation at WTO Over EU Citrus Fruit Measures

South Africa requested World Trade Organization dispute consultations with the EU over certain import restrictions imposed by the EU on South African citrus fruit, the WTO said. The EU measures are phytosanitary requirements concerning oranges and other citrus products related to the Thaumatotibia leucotreta pest, known as the false codling moth. In its consultation, South Africa claimed the EU measures are inconsistent with various parts of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. South Africa characterized the changes as "abrupt and radical," in that they now require cold treatment processes and precooling steps for specific periods for the citrus before it is imported.

Per the request for consultation, South Africa said the measures violate the SPS Agreement since it is a phytosanitary measure under the agreement that is not applied in accordance with the provision of this agreement. The request also said that the measures are inconsistent with the SPS agreement since they are not based on scientific principles and not based on a relevant international standard, "to the extent that a relevant international standard exists." Further, the measures are not based on an assessment as appropriate to the circumstances, "of the risks to … plant life or health," the request said.