Potato Ring Rot – Update
Fera has published on its website an update on the suspected Ring Rot outbreak, as follows:”Fera has made good progress in following up this suspect outbreak. No ring rot has been detected in one of the two varieties under investigation, following testing of 4,600 tubers. This has allowed restrictions to be lifted from one farm. In relation to the variety for which there were positive indications of ring rot, three farms in England grew potatoes in 2012 from the stock received from Netherlands. The harvested potatoes were intended for further seed production, farm saved seed or as ware potatoes.The harvested seed potato stock concerned has been traced and disposed of securely through burial at an Environment Agency approved site. This is an officially authorised method, which ensures that the potatoes are isolated from agricultural land and are destroyed quickly and safely. One farm saved seed stock has also been disposed of by the same method, while the other farm saved seed stock and a stock of ware potatoes are currently being held under statutory Notice, pending disposal by an approved method. A small quantity of potentially infected seed potatoes (in retail size packs) have been despatched by mail order and a recall exercise is in progress, with a good response to date. Any outstanding returns will be followed up by the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate. Around 335 tonnes of potatoes have currently been destroyed, or are in the process of being destroyed, by approved methods.A number of stocks of other varieties have been placed under restriction, because of their association with infected stocks (e.g. because they were grown in the same field, or placed in the same store). There is no evidence that ring rot is present in these stocks, but as a precaution and in compliance with legal requirements they must be disposed of by approved methods, with no re-planting permitted. Approved methods include processing and retail sales as ware potatoes. Two consignments of these varieties had been despatched to Spain and France and details have been provided to the relevant Plant Health Authorities.Outstanding work includes supervising remaining disposal of stocks. Affected stores will remain under statutory Notice until cleansing and disinfection has been completed and planting restrictions will be imposed on fields where infected stocks were grown.In summary, good progress has been made in tracing, holding and disposing of infected and potentially infected stocks. It remains the case that timely action has limited the number of farms affected and given good prospects for containing and ultimately eradicating this outbreak. This incident reinforces the importance of importers of potatoes from other EU member states complying with statutory notification requirements, to allow pre-planting checks where appropriate and to facilitate timely follow up in the event of problems.”