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APHIS Presents Changes
- Following additional review and evaluation of available scientific
information and continued consultations with scientific experts from the
US and abroad, APHIS presented alternative pest mitigation conditions
for the movement of potatoes from Prince Edward Island in a meeting with
Canada on Friday March 16, 2001. The conditions applied to both seed and
tablestock potatoes and would be implemented over a three-year period.
The following is a brief summary of the changes:
- The basic conditions and zone designations outlined in the APHIS
December 29, 2000 letter were left in place.
- SEED POTATOES
No seed potatoes can be moved to the US from either the 2000 or 2001
crops. Seed potatoes from the 2000 crop year from zone 4 could be
shipped within Canada after normal seed certification procedures,
including a phytosanitary inspection at shipping point and testing for
potato wart sporangia on residual soil generated from the grading
process. Seed potatoes from the 2001 crop year could be moved within
Canada with the same conditions from zones 3 and 4. Seed potatoes from
the 2002 crop year could be shipped from zone 4 to the US contingent on
mutually agreeable surveillance for potato wart during
2001. This would include the conditions outlined above.
- TABLESTOCK POTATOES
The pest mitigation conditions identified in the APHIS December 29th
letter would be implemented for the 2000 crop year. Those conditions
would be modified for the 2001 crop year to accept the movement of
larger packs and the removal of the washing requirement for processing
potatoes within Canada. For the 2002 crop year, potatoes from regulated
and non-regulated areas could be accepted contingent upon completion of
a surveillance program for potato wart using inspections and survey
methods acceptable to APHIS.
- Canadian Response
APHIS is currently awaiting a formal response from Canada. The initial
response at the meeting on the 16th was not favorable. If Canada does
not accept these conditions then the APHIS letter of December 29, 2000
will remain in effect in its entirety. The NPC believes these measures
are based on scientific principles and will continue to monitor the
situation.
- US Support
A number of Senators are sending a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann
Veneman urging that the USDA continue to handle the potato wart issue on
a scientific basis and to not allow trade or other issues to influence
the process. The letter is cosigned by Senators Craig (R-ID), Feingold
(D-WI), Snowe (R-ME), Dorgan (D-ND), Collins (R-ME), Kohl (D-WI), Burns
(R-MT), Baucus (D-MT), Conrad (D-ND), Crapo (R-ID), Stabenow (D-MI),
Murray (D-WA), Dayton (D-MN), Smith (R-OR), Campbell (R-CO) and Allard
(R-CO).
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