As SA traders brace for Britain’s ‘Brexit’ decision on Thursday this week – and the impact it could have on trade with the United Kingdom (UK) – the Citrus Growers’ Association is seeing the silver lining for citrus black spot (CBS).
In his latest newsletter, CGA CEO, Justin Chadwick, pointed out that although a vote by UK citizens to leave the European Union would create a ‘complex’ situation, the South African citrus industry could benefit from such a development.
“At present the UK is governed by EU plant health regulations; as a result measures are in place that restrict citrus trade with the UK despite that fact that there is not one hectare of citrus in that country,” he said.
Chadwick said this meant there would be no plant health risks and a Brexit decision would result in revision of UK plant health regulations which would be positive for southern hemisphere citrus.
