The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is taking significant steps to combat the spread of potato wart with the implementation of the new National Potato Wart Response Plan, which will take effect with the 2025 potato crop.
This comprehensive plan is designed to contain, control, and prevent the spread of this persistent disease.
The response plan outlines specific measures and activities to be followed when potato wart is detected in any region of Canada, with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador, where potato wart is already endemic. The new plan supersedes the Potato Wart Domestic Long-term Management Plan established in 2009.
“The new National Potato Wart Response Plan is a strong step forward,” says The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “It’s all about pulling together the latest science with input from growers and the potato industry to make sure we help prevent the spread of this terrible pest and protect the sector, so Canada can continue to be a reliable supplier of top-quality potatoes.”
Throughout the development of the response plan, the CFIA collaborated closely with stakeholders, including the Canadian Potato Council, the Prince Edward Island Potato Board, and the Province of Prince Edward Island (PEI).
“We will continue to monitor the latest science and work with industry to pivot and adjust our response as needed,” says Paul MacKinnon, CFIA President.
New Measures Introduced
The National Potato Wart Response Plan includes several critical new measures:
- Preventive Control Plans: Users of fields identified as restricted must develop and implement plans to mitigate risks associated with potato wart.
- Seed Potato Certification Changes: Certification for seed potatoes grown in restricted fields will be eliminated, as these potatoes pose a significant risk of spreading the disease.
- Soil Sampling and Analysis: Additional requirements for soil sampling and analysis are mandated before potato wart phytosanitary measures can be lifted from restricted fields.
The CFIA has engaged with potato growers in PEI to review the new response plan and discuss the transition for fields currently facing restrictions. Fields already under restriction will be assigned equivalent status under the new plan based on the steps growers have taken toward releasing fields from restrictions under the previous management plan.
Complementary Measures
The response plan is one aspect of a broader strategy employed by the CFIA and industry to effectively manage potato wart:
- Field and Tuber Inspections: Ongoing inspections by the CFIA, along with growers, packers, and exporters, are essential for compliance with CFIA programs and regulations, as well as for fulfilling the requirements of international markets that import Canadian potatoes.
- Potato Wart Order Compliance: Existing regulations continue to restrict the movement of seed, table stock, and processing potatoes, as well as farm equipment and soil within PEI and to other regions in Canada.
- National Potato Wart Survey: Continuous monitoring of Canadian potato fields helps verify the effectiveness of control measures in place.
These combined efforts are critical for sustaining confidence in Canada’s plant health system, both domestically and in global markets, while minimizing potential impacts on market access for Canadian potatoes.
