Ware potatoes imported from Egypt to Great Britain

• To facilitate the import of ware potatoes from Egypt, the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine as the National Plant Protection Organization for the Arab Republic of Egypt, recently provided updated Pest Free Area (PFA) codes for Ralstonia solanacearum, and the list of approved exporters of potatoes and packing stations for the 2023-2024 season
• Following reports by other countries of Ralstonia solanacearum findings associated with imported potatoes from Egypt, the UK has contacted the authorities in Egypt and the importing countries to gather further information

 There will be increased inspections on consignments of ware potatoes from Egypt:

• Latent testing of 400 tubers for the first consignment from each Egyptian irrigation basin will be carried out. This has been increased from 200 tubers. An additional 400 tubers from the fist consignment from each basin will be visually inspected and cut through to check for any suspect symptoms of solanacearum.
• There will be a 100 % inspection rate of subsequent consignments from previously tested basins. This has been raised from 50%.
• The visual inspection will be of 400 tubers, which will also be cut through to check for symptoms. Any suspect symptoms will be sent for official testing and the consignments will be put on hold, pending the diagnosis.
• If no suspect symptoms are observed during the visual inspection, the consignment can be moved inland under the normal controls for Egyptian ware potatoes.
• Any consignment of Egyptian ware potatoes found to be infested with solanacearum will be required to be destroyed under a Statutory Plant Health Notice.

 As R. solanaceraum is listed as a GB Quarantine Pest, any confirmed findings would result in official response measures being put in place. Surveillance would be carried out to identify infested and probably infested tubers or plants, places of production and other premises handling potatoes, machinery, vehicles, vessels, stores and any other objects including packaging material. Any findings at a processor would result in a Statutory Plant Health notice being issued, which would require a full clean down and disinfection of the premises before operations could resume.

As a reminder, anyone intending to import Egyptian ware potatoes should refer to gov.uk for guidance on becoming authorised to process, and contact APHA PHSI

An update will be published when more information is available