Proposed EU pesticide restrictions raise concerns for South African fruit exporters
Proposed changes to European Union pesticide residue regulations could have far-reaching consequences for South African fresh produce growers, potentially restricting the crop protection products available to exporters and threatening access to one of the country's most important international markets.
The Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has raised concerns that the European Commission's proposed Omnibus legislation could replace established, science-based residue assessments with stricter import requirements that do not adequately consider different agricultural production conditions around the world.
The European Commission's Food and Feed Safety Omnibus proposal, introduced in December 2025, aims to simplify agricultural legislation while improving the competitiveness and resilience of the EU's agri-food sector.
However, one of its proposed amendments could have significant implications for countries exporting agricultural products to Europe. The proposal would allow maximum residue levels (MRLs) for certain hazardous pesticide active substances no longer authorised in the EU to be reduced to effectively zero, subject to an impact assessment.
MRLs determine the maximum legally permitted pesticide residue levels in food products. Under the existing EU framework, these limits are established through scientific assessments of consumer health risks, taking into account pesticide use under recognised good agricultural practices.
The proposed amendments could introduce additional restrictions based on the hazardous properties of certain substances, even where existing residue limits have been assessed as safe for consumers.
Potentially severe consequences for fruit exports
The scale of the potential impact was highlighted in an economic study published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) in August 2026. The study examined the consequences of reducing residue limits for 18 active substances across 235 agricultural commodities and 86 exporting countries.
Under its most severe scenario, which assumes exporting countries cannot adapt their crop protection practices, total agricultural imports into the EU could decline very considerably, thus illustrating the potentially significant consequences of restrictions that could prevent growers from using established crop protection products. The study also showed that the impact would be considerably smaller if exporters were able to adopt alternative products and production practices.
For South African fruit growers, the challenge is particularly relevant because local climatic conditions, pest populations and disease pressures differ considerably from those experienced in Europe. Citrus, table grapes and other export fruit crops require effective pest and disease management to meet international phytosanitary requirements and maintain fruit quality.
Removing access to certain crop protection options could increase production costs, complicate pest management and potentially affect export competitiveness.
CGA calls for science-based regulation
In his weekly newsletter of 30 October, CGA CEO Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele expressed concern about the implications of the proposal for South African growers. He emphasised that consumer health risk assessments should remain the basis for determining pesticide residue limits, rather than treating a substance's authorisation status within the EU as an automatic measure of the safety of imported produce.
The CGA is working alongside the South African government to advocate for this approach. The issue is not confined to South Africa. Fruit exporters across Africa and the Americas could face similar challenges, potentially affecting international fruit supplies and raising costs for European consumers.
Decision still pending
On 30 September, the Council of the European Union adopted its negotiating position, broadly supporting the Commission's proposal to reduce MRLs for particularly hazardous substances to technical zero following impact assessments. The Council also proposed extending the scope to certain substances posing unacceptable risks to honeybees or groundwater. The European Parliament has yet to finalise its position, with voting tentatively expected in December 2026 before negotiations towards a final agreement.
For South Africa's fruit industry, the outcome will be significant. The EU remains a major destination for citrus and other fresh produce exports, making predictable, scientifically justified phytosanitary and food safety regulations essential to maintaining trade.
The CGA's concern is that international food safety standards must protect consumers without unnecessarily restricting producers operating under different growing conditions. For South African fruit growers, retaining access to effective crop protection solutions, while meeting rigorous consumer safety requirements, will remain essential to protecting export markets and the long-term competitiveness of the industry.
Sources:
Citrus Growers’ Association
https://www.cga.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/From-the-Desk-of-the-CEO-44_26-30-Oct-2026-1-1.pdf
Council of the European Union
European Commission Joint Research Centre
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service