The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is asking for feedback on several guidance documents and recommendations related to developing a new national potato wart plan, it said Friday.
The new plan would replace the existing Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan, the CFIA said in a news release.
The CFIA wants input on risk management documents (RMDs), which include those related to seed propagation in restricted fields, categorization of fields and biosecurity control programs.
Recommendations made by an international advisory panel and a Canadian industry working group were used in the development of these documents.
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The deadline to share feedback is Jan. 31. The documents can be viewed on the CFIA’s website.
The CFIA also designed a tool to help Prince Edward Island potato producers quickly see where land restrictions are in place, and an industry guide to best management practices, it said in a Dec. 20 news release.
The 2023 potato wart survey didn’t find any new instances of the fungal disease in P.E.I. The rest of the survey results haven’t yet been published, the news released added. Last year’s survey resulted in a clean bill of health.
In late 2021, Canada halted exports of P.E.I. potatoes to the U.S. after high levels of potato wart were found in the province. This led to a $28 million federal aid program and attempts to divert potatoes to other processors, packers and food banks.
Trade resumed to Puerto Rico in February, 2022, and to the continental U.S. in April that year.
The CFIA said it plans to share the new national potato wart response plan for public comment in early spring.
—Geralyn Wichers is associate digital editor of AgCanada. She writes from southeast Manitoba.
