Business Day | 23 July 2014

SADC signs EPA with EU

COUNTRIES in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) have signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union. The trade agreement is ten years in the making and will allow South Africa to export more wine (110-million litres) and sugar (150,000 tons), duty free, to Europe.

As stipulated in the EPA agreement, South Africa will also have to adopt the European Geographical Indication (GI). This will include the name Feta Cheese, which means that all new producers of feta will not be able to use the name. Likewise, the EU has give South Africa GIs for many of our wines brands, and Rooibos and Honeybush tea will receive GIs and be protected in Europe, as well as Karoo Lamb.

In this video, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies briefs the media on the Economic Partnership Agreement between Sadc and the EU.