{"id":2788,"date":"2021-11-20T09:14:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-20T14:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nationalpotatocouncil.org\/?p=2788"},"modified":"2021-11-22T09:15:30","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T14:15:30","slug":"u-s-industry-calls-for-suspension-of-all-pei-exports-over-latest-wart-find","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nationalpotatocouncil.org\/u-s-industry-calls-for-suspension-of-all-pei-exports-over-latest-wart-find\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Industry Calls for Suspension of All PEI Exports Over Latest Wart Find"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
As reported previously, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced the suspension of seed potato exports from Prince Edward Island (PEI) to the United States after potato wart was detected in two fields where potatoes were being grown for processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response, this week NPC and 13 state potato organizations sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack asking for the U.S. government\u2019s support to prevent the spread of potato wart to the United States by suspending the importation of all potatoes grown in PEI, not just seed potatoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noting that CFIA\u2019s efforts were a positive first step, the group argued that the Canadian government\u2019s action does not appear to comprehensively address the situation as \u201cthe most recent detections are in processing fields, not seed fields. Furthermore, CFIA does not appear to be instituting any new measures for other Canadian provinces receiving potatoes or equipment from PEI.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group noted that should potato wart be transmitted to the United States, the U.S. potato industry would likely lose access to all international fresh potato markets, costing the industry over $225 million in annual sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They wrote, \u201cRecognizing the potential impact and the clear evidence through repeated detections that PEI\u2019s potato wart disease situation is not under control, we urge USDA to undertake the following preventive measures;<\/p>\n\n\n\n