South African berry growers association Berries ZA will have to conduct an investigation after a shipment of South African blueberries was seized in the Netherlands in the week of October 26, according to Elzette Schutte, manager of the association.

Dutch customs officials seized a container with 20 pallets of 3 kg bulk cardboard boxes of premium blueberries in the port of Rotterdam, which was reportedly intended for distribution and sale in the EU without the authorization of the breeder Australian.

The fruit was produced by Rossberries and exported from South Africa without the permission of the rights holder for the blueberry variety, United Exports Group, according to Jon Salters, CEO of United Exports Group South Africa.

Salters said the Dutch Customs Authority issued a red alert notice to the European Union Customs Authority upon the arrival of the blueberries in Rotterdam.

“In doing so, the European Union Customs Authority recognized the community's plant variety rights with respect to the OZblu blueberry varieties held by United Exports Group and grown by the South African fruit grower without a license to do so.

“The European Union Customs Authority has seized the fruit and has initiated proceedings involving the South African exporter, the carrier and the European wholesaler for the destruction of the fruit,” United Exports said in a report on Freshplaza.com.

“United Exports Group produces the proprietary variety of blueberries and sub-licenses the right to do so to several growers. The producer in question terminated its license in May to grow and produce fruit from the patented varieties that were exported to a Belgian wholesaler, ”said Salters.

“It should be noted that this relates to a single instance where a licensed grower thought he could cancel his contract and that breeder's rights and other related regulations would not be respected.

"The failure of producers and the agricultural industry in general to respect and defend the rights of breeders will directly result in the diversion of new genetics from South Africa in favor of other countries in the southern hemisphere that do," he explained.

Berries ZA President Justin Mudge said the association supported the implementation and regulation of the process in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, including those of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties, and the expected South African growers and your allied partners. adhere to these laws.

Freshworld, the company that exported the blueberries to the EU on behalf of Rossberries, said in a statement emailed to Farmer's Weekly that Freshworld was “a proud member of the Produce Agents Council and the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum (FPEF), and adheres to the code of conduct established by FPEF”.

According to Freshworld, Rossberries was a longtime Freshworld customer.

"United Exports did not consult with any of the affected parties before taking their action," said Jaco Oosthuizen CEO RSA Group, owner of Freshworld.

"At this stage, given the lack of consultation, we are still investigating the details and cannot offer any specific comment," Oosthuizen added.