In France, despite the situation related to COVID-19, the official
tests required by the competent authority on certified seed potato
lots will be ensured.
Like many spring (and even winter) crops, seed potatoes production does not avoid the exceptional outbreak of virus-transmitting aphids this season. In this very particular context rarely observed and despite the sanitary situation related to COVID-19, field inspectors are fully mobilized to carry out the inspection work in accordance with the agreement between FN3PT and GNIS/SOC, the competent authority for certification and phytosanitary matters for seed potatoes.
FN3PT and its POs (Bretagne Plants, Comité Nord and Comité Centre et Sud) inform that all the official tests required to guarantee the sanitary quality of seed potatoes will be carried out in accordance with the European and French regulations in force and as requested by the competent authority. These tests will be carried out, as usual, on all lots in accredited and approved laboratories in addition to visual inspections in the field and in particular post-harvest tests for the detection of viruses (visual inspections and ELISA tests, where appropriate, qPCR tests) and IF tests to verify the absence of quarantine bacteria.
Laboratories have sufficient reagents to carry out these tests on French production. Providing the necessary sanitary guarantees to the users of French seed potatoes, whether they are in France, in Europe or in third countries, is the priority and the commitment of the certified seed potato growers united within the FN3PT/OP.
FN3PT/OP reaffirms its position that all lots must be officially tested, including those introduced into French territory. It is a question of sanitary preservation of the environment and productions from all sectors (seed, ware, processing potatoes). Vigilance must be taken with regard to the introduced seed potatoes, whose sanitary quality must comply with the regulations in order to avoid contamination of the territory.
For more information:
Bernard Quere
FN3PT
Tel: +33 1 44 69 42 60
Email: Bernard.quere@fnpppt.fr