Minituber pathogen testing pilot begins
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USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) started a pilot program to evaluate approval of private laboratories to conduct pathogen testing of U.S. mini tuber (Solanum tuberosum) in support of export certification. APHIS will provisionally approve qualified private laboratories to test and provide results to support the exportation of pathogens in minitubers and plant tissues. The pilot allows APHIS to evaluate tests that private laboratories use for certification prior to any final rulemaking.
To qualify for the pilot, private laboratories must have International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) 17025 accreditation for laboratory testing of plants and plant product pathogens. Interested laboratories must complete and sign the application form and meet all applicable APHIS requirements to participate. To request the application form, send an email to PPQexportservices@aphis.usda.gov.
During the pilot, industry may use laboratory test results from approved private entities when they apply for minituber phytosanitary certification for export. A list of approved private entities will be posted on the Accreditation and Certification Programs website.