Potato wart containment, control, and prevention are priorities for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). With the 2025 potato crop, the recently completed National Potato Wart Response Plan will go into force.

For new potato wart detections anywhere in Canada outside of Newfoundland and Labrador, the response plan specifies actions and procedures that need to be taken after detection is verified. It takes the place of the 2009 Potato Wart Domestic Long-term Management Plan.

“The new National Potato Wart Response Plan is a strong step forward. 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,” Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, mentioned.

The CFIA met regularly with stakeholders, including the Canadian Potato Council, the Prince Edward Island Potato Board, and the Province of Prince Edward Island (PEI), throughout the development of the response plan. Input from these stakeholders has helped make the final response plan inclusive of information and expertise from the potato sector including growers and grower associations, and trading partners.

“The CFIA prioritized the review of our approach to potato wart and worked closely with stakeholders to develop the new response plan to help contain, control, and prevent its spread. We will continue to monitor the latest science and work with industry to pivot and adjust our response as needed,” Paul MacKinnon, CFIA President, added.

New Measures

Preventive Control Plans – users of restricted fields must develop and implement preventive control plans to identify and manage risks associated with potato wart;
Seed Potato Certification – certification will no longer be available for seed potatoes grown in restricted fields, as seed potatoes are a significant risk for spreading the disease;
Soil Sampling and Analysis – additional soil sampling and analysis are required before removing potato wart phytosanitary measures from restricted fields.

The CFIA has met with potato growers in PEI to review the new response plan and discuss the transition for users of fields that currently have potato wart-related restrictions; fields in PEI already under restriction will be assigned an equivalent status under the new response plan. This will be based on the steps growers and/or landowners have already completed toward a field’s release from restrictions under the 2009 management plan.

Complementary Measures

The response plan is one of several measures used by the CFIA and industry to manage potato wart and help prevent its spread:
Field and Tuber Inspections: The CFIA and growers, packers, and exporters complete field and tuber inspections and postharvest testing as required by CFIA programs and regulations. These are also key to meeting the requirements of countries importing Canadian potatoes;
Potato Wart Order Compliance: Requirements remain in place to restrict the movement of potatoes (seed, table stock, and processing potatoes) and other regulated things such as farm equipment and soil within the province of PEI and to other Canadian regions;
National Potato Wart Survey: ongoing monitoring of Canadian potato fields provides valuable data to verify the effectiveness of control measures.

“All of these measures are critical in helping maintain confidence in our plant health system, both domestically and abroad, as well as minimizing the possible impact on market access for Canada’s potatoes,” CFIA representatives concluded.