National Potato Council Applauds APHIS Action to Mitigate Potato Wart Threat from Prince Edward Island; Kam Quarles and Jeannie Tapley Comment

WASHINGTON, DC - The National Potato Council (NPC) welcomed the announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) amending the federal order regulating potatoes from Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada.

Formally announced at 2:00 p.m. ET, the amendments will require U.S. facilities handling bulk loads (50 lbs or larger) of PEI potatoes to responsibly dispose of waste material from repacking, processing, and other operations in a manner approved by APHIS. This long-awaited action addresses pathways identified by APHIS through which Potato Wart could enter the U.S., as the pathogen can survive the digestive system of cattle and dwell in soil for decades while remaining viable.

“The National Potato Council thanks Secretary Rollins, Undersecretary Hoskins, and APHIS for acting so responsibly to address this potato wart disease threat,” said Kam Quarles, NPC CEO, in the recent release. “This action is another step in ensuring that this virulent disease never becomes established in our country, thereby avoiding billions of dollars in negative economic impact and thousands of job losses to America’s family potato farms and the communities they support.”

Potato wart is a highly destructive disease that is classified by APHIS as a “select agent” due to its severe consequences should it become established in a country. It travels on infected potatoes and contaminated soil. This disease was first found in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, in 2000. A series of new detections on PEI in 2021 caused APHIS to completely prohibit shipments of potatoes to the U.S.

“Given our growers’ geographical proximity to this disease threat, the Maine Potato Board is extremely supportive of the action announced by APHIS today,” said Jeannie Tapley, Executive Director of the Maine Potato Board. “This appropriate response will reassure Maine growers that APHIS is committed to preventing this disease from crossing our borders.”

Following the initial export ban, the Biden Administration allowed shipments of PEI potatoes to the U.S. to resume, except for seed potatoes. However, an APHIS analysis in 2022 stated that if disease pathways were not addressed, “it is a matter of when, not if” potato wart will enter the U.S.

The U.S. potato industry has advocated for enhanced mitigation measures for years to protect American family farms. APHIS has spent recent months conducting listening sessions with potentially impacted facilities regarding these changes. The new federal rule does not limit or halt any operations, instead requiring responsible handling of waste that may carry disease. The new regulations will feature a 45-day implementation period.