SA fruit exporters urged to be ‘compliance fit’ as China opportunities expand

The message comes as South Africa continues efforts to expand agricultural exports, including deeper access to China. A delegation representing Hortgro, the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum, Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa, Berries ZA and Fruit South Africa is expected to accompany Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp on an official visit to China, with a potential export protocol for South African cherries among the issues on the agenda.

Calla du Toit, Hortgro Pome chairperson and procurement director at Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, said growing international interest in South African fruit creates significant opportunity, but producers can no longer view ethical and environmental compliance as optional. He warned that exporters increasingly compete not only on price and quality, but also on their ability to demonstrate responsible production.

Compliance increasingly tied to market access

The issue extends well beyond passing an annual audit as South African exporters are facing growing requirements around human-rights due diligence, environmental performance, traceability, worker protection and credible systems for identifying and correcting risks. These expectations are becoming embedded in international supply chains and increasingly influence who is allowed to supply certain markets and customers.

Francois Brink, founder of Skyvines, told delegates that producers often focus on the visible costs of compliance, including audits, training, protective equipment, consultants and infrastructure. The cost of failing to comply can be considerably greater, however, through lost customers, reputational damage, product recalls or restricted market access. For an export-focused agricultural sector, the commercial return on compliance is therefore increasingly measured in trust and continued access to high-value markets.

SIZA’s growing role

The conference also marked SIZA’s tenth year as an independent organisation. Over the past decade, SIZA has developed into a national sustainability assurance programme covering more than 40 agricultural commodities and linking South African suppliers with hundreds of international buyers. International recognition has grown from 58 market and buyer relationships in 2016 to 368 in 2026, while more than 32,000 visibility links now connect buyers and suppliers through the MySIZA platform. Participation has also increased from 992 legal entities in 2016/17 to 2,537 in 2025/26, while more than 15,400 people have taken part in over 300 training sessions since 2019.

Why this matters for South African producers

For growers, the China discussions illustrate why compliance has become a commercial issue rather than simply an administrative one. Opening a new market is only the first step. Producers must also be able to meet the ethical, environmental and traceability requirements of buyers once access is secured. As South Africa targets growth in markets such as China, being “compliance fit” could increasingly determine which growers are able to participate in those opportunities. The challenge for producers is therefore not simply to pass audits, but to maintain systems that demonstrate continuous improvement, manage risk and give international customers confidence in South Africa as a reliable long-term supplier.