The PEI potato industry welcomed the final report of International Advisory Panel (IAP) on Potato Wart that was presented to industry and government on January 16, 2023. The panel was convened by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in 2022, as follow-up to potato wart detections in PEI in October 2021.
The panel was comprised of world-renowned experts in potato wart from Germany, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland and New Zealand. The Panel's main purpose was to obtain the advice of leading experts on testing diagnostics, surveillance and management of potato wart. The experts also examined whether existing wart management activities meet International Standards to certify potatoes for international export.
The PEI potato industry is pleased with the thoroughness of the panel report and the Panel's key findings that "Given the limited presence of the pathogen, the IAP considers most parts of PEI outside the Regulated Fields as a PFA (pest free area) for S. Endobioticum."
This conclusion is important because the Ministerial Order established by the federal government in November 2021 said that the entire province of PEI was "infested" with potato wart, which this report now demonstrates was an over-reaching, misleading label that offended PEI farmers and was accompanied by severe restrictions.
The IAP report also confirmed that the general and specific surveillance activities on PEI since 2000, meet international standards to support this pest free recognition. Washing of potatoes and application of a sprout inhibition product were also recognized as appropriate risk mitigation measures for the movement of fresh potatoes from an area where a soil borne pest, such as potato wart or PCN, has been found.
The industry is eager to get to work with federal officials to develop the plan forward for PEI farmers. The industry calls on the government to act in an efficient, timely and transparent manner for the good of PEI and the good of the Canadian agricultural sector.
For more information:
Kendra Mills
Prince Edward Island Potato Board
90 Hillstrom Avenue, Charlottetown
PEI CANADA C1E 2C6
Tel.: +1 902-892-6551
kendra@peipotato.org
www.peipotato.org