Effective January 26, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requires new conditions for the importation of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) from Prince Edward Island, Canada, into the United States.
The new conditions will prevent the introduction of potato wart and its causative agent Synchytrium endobioticum. S. endobioticum is a harmful plant pest that could spread via host commodities imported from foreign countries where this pest is currently present.
To prevent the introduction of S. endobioticum into the United States, APHIS will use interim measures for the importation of potatoes (S. tuberosum) to the United States that are grown in fields on Prince Edward Island that are not under regulatory control by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
APHIS has issued a Federal Order outlining the entry requirements for the importation of table stock, bulk, and seed potatoes.
For additional information regarding this Federal Order, importers, etc. may contact Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist William Aley via telephone at 301-851-2130 or via e-mail.
Questions about this regulatory update may be directed to Livingston’s U.S. Regulatory Affairs group .