News Diseases
Work continues to prevent spread of potato wart in P.E.I.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) potato industry continue to work to make progress to help contain, control and prevent the spread of potato wart in P.E.I.

Building on engagement with the potato sector to date, the CFIA is obtaining feedback on three Risk Management Documents which outline options related to biosecurity, seed potato production and the categorization of fields associated with potato wart detections. Feedback received on these documents will help inform the development of a new National Potato Wart Response Plan, to replace the current Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan.

The CFIA is also taking other action to protect against the spread of potato wart:

• A tool has been designed to help P.E.I. potato producers quickly see where land restrictions are in place, helping them make timely and important business decisions.
• A guide for industry has been developed to communicate movement requirements and highlight biosecurity best practices to encourage preparedness and resilience.

Throughout the fall of 2023, the CFIA continued with its third annual national potato wart survey. The survey included the collection of soil in seed potato production fields in provinces that are not regulated for potato wart, in addition to the collection of soil in unrestricted fields in P.E.I. Results of the national survey will be available in the spring of 2024. However, the results of the P.E.I. element of the national survey are known; there were no new findings of potato wart on the Island.

Combined, these actions are aimed at helping P.E.I. potato growers make timely and important business decisions for the upcoming growing season.