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P.E.I. Potato Board says federal restrictions caused catastrophic damage to industry

A court heard arguments on March 22 regarding the federal decision to restrict the movement of P.E.I. seed potatoes.

As reported by CBC, the court proceedings was part of a judicial review filed by the P.E.I. Potato Board against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the federal minister of agriculture.

In the fall of 2021, a ministerial order stopped the transport of seed potatoes, along with fresh potatoes, after potato wart was found in some Island fields.

The border reopened to P.E.I. fresh potatoes April 1, 2022, but seed potatoes are still prohibited from leaving P.E.I.

Lawyers for the P.E.I. Potato Board say the federal government’s order was overreaching and caused catastrophic damage to the Island’s seed potato industry.

“A little bit like a sledgehammer,” says Mark Ledwell, one of the lawyers for the P.E.I. Potato Board.

The board wants the order revoked.

Ledwell says it’s like there’s currently a black cloud over the industry.

“We say that there’s no science that was before the minister making these decisions. Really what was before the minister was a bunch of threats from the United States and the U.S. potato industry saying we want P.E.I. seed potatoes closed and not permitted to leave P.E.I.,” says Ledwell.

For the full story, please visit cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-cbc-potato-wart-seed-court-1.6788979.