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- The USDA-APHIS continues to handle the potato wart issue on a scientific
basis despite efforts by Canada to politicize the issue. USDA has
presented Canada with a 3-year protocol based upon currently available
scientific data on the potato wart. The Agency is also continuing to
try to learn more about the disease. In an April 10 letter to Robert
Carberry, the Canadian Director of Plant Health, APHIS has suggested
some adjustments in the protocol regarding seed and tablestock shipments
from PEI to other parts of Canada. The new adjustment proposed is as
follows:
- Seed potatoes from Zone 3 could be moved to other provinces of
Canada under normal seed certification procedures, a phytosanitary
inspection at the shipping point, and testing for potato wart sporangia
on residual soil generated from the packing process. This proposal is
contingent on CFIA's providing the following information to APHIS; the
acreage of seed potato lots in Zone 3, the estimated volume of seed
potatoes produced in Zone 3, the projected volume of seed potatoes
produced in Zone 3 that will be moved to other provinces of Canada, the
varieties of seed potatoes produced in Zone 3, and the PEI Seed
Directory.
- Tablestock potatoes originating in Zone 3 could be moved to all
provinces of Canada in consumer packs of 50 pounds or less.
- Bulk potatoes from Zones 3 and destined for processing facilities in
other provisions of Canada would not need to be washed prior to
shipping. I n addition to the mitigation measures set forth in the
letter of March 19, 2001, a processing facility operating under a CFIA
compliance agreement also indicated that any shipment of potatoes
rejected at the processing facility shall be returned to PEI for
disposal. CFIA must ensure that a method of tracking the disposal of
these rejected shipments is in place.
- Latest Development - Canadian Ag Minister Vanclief in a public
announcement before over 400 PEI farmers yesterday totally
misrepresented the above condition on tablestock potatoes that could be
shipped within Canada. He and PEI Ag Minister Mitch Murphy told growers
they could ship tablestock potatoes from zones 3 & 4 unwashed and not
sprout inhibited to the other provinces. That is not true and was not
even discussed in the Dunkle letter sent to Carberry yesterday. The
reason this is so important on PEI is that over 200 growers do not have
the capacity to wash or sprout inhibit. Dave Lavway has been in
constant contact with APHIS and has been assured the U.S. Border is
closed and will stay closed until Canada responds in writing outlining
how they intend to comply with all the conditions. Once the PEI growers
find out the truth, the repercussions will be huge on the Island. You
will see and hear a great deal of misinformation that is in the Canadian
press. You can be sure the NPC is on top of the issue and will continue
to monitor how this latest situation turns out.
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