Canada Reluctantly Suspends Exports of Potatoes From Prince Edward Island to US
Canada suspended exports of potatoes to the U.S. from Prince Edward Island, including table stock potatoes and processing potatoes, following the detection of potato wart in the province, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Nov. 22. The suspension, which took effect Nov. 21, does not affect processed potatoes, such as frozen products. Movement of seed potatoes from Prince Edward Island to the U.S. has been suspended since Nov. 2.
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CFIA said it would “continue to work closely with the U.S. to address their concerns with a view to minimizing impacts to trade,” adding that it considers table and processed potatoes to be of negligible risk provided “strong risk mitigation measures” are undertaken. “The U.S. has committed to ongoing technical discussions with the CFIA and details from the ongoing 2021 potato wart investigations will be shared,” the Canadian agency said.
CFIA confirmed potato wart on two different farms in Prince Edward Island Oct. 1 and 14, it said. “This follows previous detections in 33 fields across all three PEI counties since 2000.”
Canadian Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said the export ban was put in place to avoid a potential federal order from the U.S. banning imports of all fresh Prince Edward Island potatoes “if Canada did not act first to suspend trade.” Bibeau said Canada had already issued its own order Nov. 21 introducing risk mitigation measures to stop the spread of potato wart.
“We believe in the science, which tells us that the U.S. intention to suspend the trade of fresh potatoes from PEI goes beyond what is necessary to mitigate risk. With the proper mitigation measures, the trade of table stock and processing potatoes remains absolutely safe,” Bibeau said.
“But in order to resume trade as quickly as possible and prevent the imposition of more damaging, long-term measures, we must engage with the United States' concerns. Therefore, as of November 21, 2021, the CFIA has temporarily suspended trade of fresh potatoes from PEI to the U.S. We do not take this measure lightly,” she said.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Nov. 22 he appreciates Canada’s action. “Our risk assessment demonstrated that this action is necessary to protect U.S. potato producers from possible exposure” to potato wart, Vilsack said. “We look forward to working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as they delimit the infestation and trace the sources so that appropriate mitigation measures can be imposed and trade restrictions relaxed.”
Potato wart is “one of the most serious potato diseases in the world,” reducing yield and making potatoes unmarketable, USDA said. Canada’s suspension of exports “is a necessary interim measure to protect United States potato production,” it said. “In addition, all used farm machinery, farm tools, and farming equipment from PEI imported into the United States be visibly clean and free of soil. These restrictions only impact PEI and trade continues with the rest of Canada.”