UK-EU Rules Could Raise Costs for South Africa's Citrus Exports
South Africa fears a planned UK-EU SPS agreement could extend stricter import rules to the British market. The UK is South Africa's fourth-largest citrus export market, worth $213 million in 2025. Higher compliance costs could weigh on the competitiveness of one of the world's largest citrus exporters. South Africa's citrus. . .
South Africa fears a planned UK-EU SPS agreement could extend stricter import rules to the British market. The UK is South Africa's fourth-largest citrus export market, worth $213 million in 2025. Higher compliance costs could weigh on the competitiveness of one of the world's largest citrus exporters. South Africa's citrus industry fears a planned sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union could increase compliance costs and make it harder to access one of its most valuable export markets. The warning comes from Boitshoko Ntshabele, chief executive of the Citrus Growers' Association (CGA), who told industry publicationEurofruiton July 10 that aligning UK SPS rules with those of the European Union could remove some of the regulatory advantages South African exporters have enjoyed in the British market since Brexit. The stakes are significant. The United Kingdom imported nearly $213 million worth of South African citrus in 2025, making it the industry's fourth-largest export destination after the European Union, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates, according to Trade Map data. Why the Agreement MattersSince 2025, the United Kingdom and the European Union have been negotiating a new SPS agreement covering trade in plants, plant products, animals, animal products, animal feed, and food. The agreement aims to reduce regulatory differences between London and Brussels and is expected to take effect from mid-2027. According to a statement released by the UK government in June 2026, Great Britain—England, Scotland, and Wales—as well as Northern Ireland, will apply certain rules aligned with those of the European Union. The government also said the new framework will apply even to businesses that do not trade directly with the EU. As EU regulations evolve, corresponding rules in Great Britain will also be updated. Why South African Exporters Are ConcernedThe prospect of regulatory alignment comes as South Africa continues to challenge several EU sanitary requirements affecting its citrus exports. Since July 2022, the European Union has required South African citrus shipments to undergo mandatory cold treatment at temperatures between 0°C and -1°C for 16 to 25 days before entering the bloc. The treatment must be carried out in South Africa, forcing exporters to invest in additional cold storage and handling capacity to comply with the rules. Pretoria challenged the measure under World Trade Organization dispute settlement procedures later that year. South Africa has also disputed the EU's regulations on citrus black spot since 2024. The disease, caused by the fungusPhyllosticta citricarpa, is subject to strict EU controls requiring detailed spraying programs and inspections in orchards and packing facilities. According to South Africa's Ministry of Agriculture, those requirements impose substantial compliance costs on the country's citrus industry. Although these measures currently apply only to exports destined for the European Union, they illustrate the additional regulatory burden South African exporters could face if the United Kingdom adopts a similar framework. "Since Brexit, the UK has had a different approach to South African citrus. Now, with the realignment, we will likely see the EU requirements becoming mandatory for our fruit shipped to the UK, with all related compliance costs kicking in,"Ntshabele said. A Strategic Export MarketSouth Africa strengthened its position in the global citrus trade in 2025 by becoming the world's largest citrus exporter by volume, ahead of Spain, according to Trade Map. The country exported 3. 23 million tons of citrus that year, generating nearly $2. 5 billion in export revenue. Together, the European Union and the United Kingdom accounted for nearly 45% of the value of South Africa's citrus exports, underlining their importance to the industry. The Citrus Growers' Association aims to increase exports to 3. 9 million tons annually by 2032, making secure access to overseas markets increasingly important. For producers, the challenge is no longer limited to expanding export volumes. Maintaining access to the industry's most profitable markets is becoming just as critical as sanitary and phytosanitary requirements play an increasingly important role in determining global competitiveness. Stéphanas Assocle