SUBTROP

THE BUSINESS OF fruit exports is becoming increasingly

complex. Phytosanitary regulations to prevent the spread

of plant pests and diseases are becoming stricter, export

volumes are increasing, as are the number of export markets.

This makes the government’s task of export phytosanitary

certification more difficult, especially in the current climate

where budgets often do not allow for the appointment of

additional staff.

The Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA), in 2013, devel-

oped an online portal called Phytclean to assist with reporting

of compliance to phytosanitary measures for export markets

with special phytosanitary requirements, e.g. the USA. In

2015, this became a Fruit South Africa project which included

the other fruit types. In 2017, Fruit SA entered into an

agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and

Fisheries (DAFF) to further develop the Phytclean as well as an

e-Certification system for all agricultural products.

Phytclean was initially funded by a grant from the Depart-

ment of Science and Technology, the CGA and the other

members of Fruit SA. Now Phytclean and eCert are fully

funded by DAFF and development is being done by the Fruit

SA IT team. The project is an excellent example of a public-

private partnership. The Fruit SA IT team, led by Paul Hard-

man of the CGA, includes an IT manager, five developers and

two administrators.

Once the initial development of the initial system is

complete (target date, November 2019), it is envisaged that

maintenance and further development of the system will be

funded through a fee which will be paid for the issuance of

phytosanitary certificates.

Currently, avocados, mangoes and litchis do not have any

special phytosanitary requirements for export. This, however,

will change soon. As from November 2019, new EU regula-

tions require a phytosanitary system for fruit fly to be in

place for mangoes entering the EU. Fortunately, the mango

Salamina Maelane, DAFF, and Paul Hardman, Fruit SA IT

project leader.

industry will be able to make use of Phytclean. And as we

again access to new markets with special phytosanitary re-

quirements, the use of Phytclean will become necessary.

Phytclean and eCert are vital developments which will

reduce paperwork, improve the speed, accuracy and overall

efficiency of phytosanitary certification of our export fruit.