South Africa’s wine industry has been given permission to export its products during the lockdown period.
This follows a period of “intensive lobbying” by a task team of exporters, industry members said in a statement.
Industry bodies said the change in regulations, signed off by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and published in the Government Gazette on April 7, 2020 had been met with considerable relief.
The new regulations stipulate that wine may be exported and agricultural cargo can be moved to sea ports and international airports for export. It follows an earlier concession for the wine industry to complete harvesting and processing activities to prevent wastage during the 21-day lockdown.
“During the lockdown period, the transportation of the wines and any other fresh produce products at the sea ports and international Airports Designated as Port of Entry for export is allowed,” the notice stated.
Maryna Calow, communications manager, Wines of South Africa, said the latest Government Gazette highlights that the transport of finished wine for the purpose of exports may be continued.
“This does, however, still need to be unpacked and more information in this regard will be shared with our producers as soon as possible. It does need to be stated that there are a number of delicate points in this regard, such as that the manufacturing process does not fall within this exemption,” Calow explained.
“The transport of wine is still not seen as ‘essential’. This is merely an exception that has been made by government and one which we as an industry are very grateful for.”
Grape and wine production is one of the largest export-orientated agricultural value-chains, with a contribution of R49bn ($2.7bn) to South Africa’s GDP.
But South Africa Police Minister Bheki Cele initially announced that during the 21-day lockdown there would be no buying or selling of alcohol, nor the transport of liquor “between two points.
Industry representatives have argued that the importance of being allowed to export lies not only in the foreign exchange it earns for the country, but that local producers are trying to make up for a decline in wine exports of about 30% in 2019.
