EU phytosanitary trade regulations on citrus black spot (CBS) and WTO dispute with South Africa

Question for written answer E-001568/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Fabio De Masi (NI)

South Africa has initiated a WTO dispute settlement procedure in relation to the EU's phytosanitary trade regulations regarding CBS. South Africa claims these regulations were primarily intended to shield Spanish and Portuguese producers of citrus fruits from South African competition. While the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) argued in 2013 that CBS could spread to citrus farms in the EU, scientists from Brazil, Argentina, the US, Uruguay, Australia and South Africa have challenged this assessment. South African producers point out that they have exported citrus fruits to the EU for over 110 years without a single case of CBS transmission, and argue that CBS would be a purely cosmetic issue, affecting only a very small proportion of exported fruit and unable to spread via fruit to other climatic zones.

Has EFSA submitted any new studies or findings to the WTO since 2013 to support the EU's position and the 2013 assessment? If so, what information has been communicated?

Submitted: 17.4.2025