Potential consequences loom for South Africa's "too white" farms, as they risk losing access to the European Union and the United Kingdom

 

 European Union and the United Kingdom may ban South Africa's "TOO White" farms. Obtain: According to posts in the Government Gazette, South African farms that are judged "too white" would no longer be permitted to sell their produce to the UK and the EU, the Johannesburg-based City Press daily claimed.

 

In order to maintain their export permits, farmers are required by law to satisfy certain criteria related to black economic empowerment.

 

The rules will be applicable to farming enterprises that generate at least 10 million rand ($534,000) in revenue annually. The notification lists the goods that are impacted as milk, cream, butter, fruit, nuts, sugar, jam, fruit purée, fruit juices, yeast, table grapes, and wine.

Farmers' advocacy group Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) informed City Press that the regulations will jeopardize investor security, employment creation, and the expansion of the country's agricultural industry.

 

Furthermore, according to Theo de Jager, chairman of Saai, "the lobby will fight against them in every local and international forum, in courts and multilateral agencies of the UN and the African Union," as the measures are "far outside the framework of internationally acceptable protocols," as reported by City Press.

 

The largest opposition party in South Africa, the Democratic Alliance, complained about the regulations to the trade offices of the UK and the EU, claiming that they were against fair trade laws. The fundamental foundation of South Africa's accords with the EU and the UK is the defense of democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law, according to alliance. 

In 2022, agricultural exports from South Africa were around 240 billion rand ($12.8 billion), of which 4% went to the UK and 20% to the EU.

 

Companies in South Africa have been urged to implement black empowerment plans in order to adhere to government laws to address financial disparities resulting from the apartheid era.