The world's second-largest citrus exporter after Spain is challenging changes made in 2022 to the EU's phytosanitary requirements for oranges and other citrus products.

The new measures require enhanced cold treatment for fruit due to concerns over false codling moth, a pest commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa, and citrus black spot, a fungal disease that leaves dark spots on fruit.

SA, which says the EU measures "are unscientific and discriminatory", this week requested the establishment of two panels at a meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body to examine its complaints after consultations with the EU failed to reach a "satisfactory conclusion".

"This is the first time that SAprogresses a dispute at the WTO beyond the panel state of the established DSB process," SA's trade and agriculture ministries said in a joint statement with the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa.

--Reuters--