BREXIT has provided South African citrus growers a reason to cheer as the industry has been in a spot of bother because of stringent EU import requirements.Now, the R9bn industry, which has been battling citrus spot outbreaks over three years, expects to benefit from Brexit because it anticipates Britain will introduce its own, less stringent and independent plant health regulations.It has been a tough three years for South African citrus growers, against whom the EU imposed a number of import bans due to citrus black spot.The EU views citrus black spot as a threat to its own crops and has introduced strict sanitary measures that include a requirement that local growers keep records of pre-and post-harvest chemical treatments, among others. The last ban on South African citrus was imposed in November 2013 and lifted in January 2014.Citrus black spot causes blemishes on the fruit’s peel.In April, organic lemon growers suspended their exports to the EU after finding citrus black spot ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.