Non-Tariff Barriers

Complaint

Complaint number

NTB-000-400  

NTB Type

1.1. Export subsidies  

NTM Code

A52: Irradiation 

Complaint

The Zambian honey sector have come against repeated resistance from the South African authorities to allow organic honey to enter the South Africa market without the unnecessary requirement of irradiation. Therefore, our traders are requesting the South African government for an exemption from the irradiation requirements for the importation of honey from Zambia as set out by the National Department of Agriculture (RSA).

An analysis undertaken by the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) of South Africa collected honey samples from across Zambia during a national disease survey funded by the World Bank in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture of Zambia. The findings of this analysis by the NDA reveal that there is no American Foulbrood Disease in Zambia.  

Status note

South Africa advised that all honey exports from Zambia were now accepted into that market.  

Progress update note

1. On 7 November 2013, SADC Secretariat submitted the following Status Report as at 1st November, 2013 by IPPC Contact Point of the Republic of South Africa:

The draft requirements for import of non-irradiated honey have been internally consulted with the relevant role players. The situation is such that, as much as Directorate Plant Health is the policy component of the National Plant Protection Organisation of South Africa (NPPOZA), it is also responsible for setting import measures for honey even though honey pests and diseases fall within the ambit of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) rather than the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). Accordingly, NPPOZA work in close collaboration with the Directorate of Animal Health in this respect. Also, in accordance with national transparency obligations, NPPOZA consulted with external stakeholders. After evaluating all inputs, NPPOZA was in the process of finalizing the draft import requirements and need to hold a follow-up meeting with the various local role players and stakeholders to conclude on the process. It was envisaged that NPPOZA would be able to communicate further progress, if not the final draft import measures, by the end of November 2013.

2. On 6 September 2013, Zambia Focal Point report the following progress:

South Africa confirmed during the meeting to launch the SMS reprting tool held on 9-10 April 2013 in Lusaka, Zambia that they had received and opened all the documents it requested from Zambia. However, to date, neither the Zambian company affected by this NTB nor the Zambian Animal Health or NPPO have received any communication from DAFF South Africa regarding any new procedures for exporting honey to South Africa. No PRA has been produced by South Africa to date. Zambia continues to be denied access to export its AFB disease-free honey to South Africa even though South Africa already has American Foulbrood disease.

3.The 11th meeting of the SADC Sub -Committee on Trade Facilitation held on 23may 2013 in Gaborone, noted South Africa's report that the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) had relegated the matter to a competent research institution in the country, which is working with a Zambian companies involved in honey production. Research is not done by the Government. South Africa reported that NDA has always been in contact with Ministry of Agriculture of Zambia. The SCTF agreed that the matter should continue to be addressed bilaterally.  

Policy or regulatory NTB

No 

Location

South Africa: The Department of Trade and Industry (Government institution)  

Reporting Country or Region

Zambia  

Country specific trade issue

No  

Date of incident

2011-02-22  

Status

Resolved  

Date of resolution

2015-08-10  

Product Description

Organic Honey

Computer-assisted translation

• English
• Arabic
• French
• Portuguese

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Total value

0  

Date reported

2011-02-26 15:54  

Modified

2015-11-15 18:10