In a statement sent to Lusa, the ministerial body reacted to statements made last week by an official of that supermarket chain, who said he had been waiting "for a year" for the Angolan authorities to proceed in order to export products to South Africa.
In the note, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries states that "at no time" has that chain "requested" from this body "a phytosanitary certificate for the export of pineapples to South Africa".
The Government mentions having received, on 14 March 2019, an email from the South African authorities informing that a study was being conducted in that country to analyse the risks of diseases and pests of pineapple produced in Angola.
The South African authorities, the Ministry of Agriculture said, sent Angola a list of 25 pineapple diseases and weeds and one of 34 diseases and pests that do not exist in their country for confirmation.
Angola confirmed only five of the 25 pests in relation to pineapple, she explains.
"It should be noted that import restrictions on products of plant origin depend on the phytosanitary authority of the importing country and not on the exporting country", reads the communiqué.
Lusa reported last week that the Shoprite Angola supermarket chain has been waiting "for a year" for a response from the Agriculture Ministry to export pineapple, passion fruit, mango and coffee to South Africa, according to one official.
According to Eduardo Cussendala, business manager of Shoprite Angola, after exporting nearly five tons of bananas in 2019, the operators of the South African giant in Angola intend to vary the agricultural export, but point out "obstacles".
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries also stressed in the document that Angola, as a member of the World Trade Organization, has complied with the commitments made to Member States in the trade facilitation agreement and has issued phytosanitary certificates for the export of bananas, mangoes, pineapples, papayas, passion fruit and pitaia to African and European countries without restriction.
