Jan 12, 2022Canadian government forms committee to assist PEI in restoring market access
The Canadian government is forming a committee to assist the Prince Edward Island potato industry in restoring market access following multiple cases of potato wart being found in PEI fields in 2021.
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the Federal Ministerial Coordinating Committee on PEI Potatoes through a press release on Jan. 7. The objective is to enhance “coordination and collaboration across the federal government to respond to concerns and find solutions.”
Following positive tests for potato wart, PEI potato producers lost access to U.S. markets, as well as other Canadian provinces. Per the Jan. 7 press release: “On Nov. 22, the USDA instructed border services to reject any shipment of seed, table and processing potatoes from PEI. The U.S. has requested clear scientific data on CFIA’s investigation of the recent potato wart detections, clear risk mitigation measures and an ongoing monitoring plan for clearly defined quarantined areas. While the CFIA is currently redoubling its efforts to gather the requested information in order to reassure the U.S., (the CFIA) cannot certify PEI potatoes, as they do not meet U.S. requirements in accordance with the plant protection regulations.”
The full press release can be found here.
More on the PEI potato wart situation can be found here.
