National Seed Potato Day
'EU regulations disaster for seed potato sector'
At the National Seed Potato Day in Emmeloord (Flevoland), Loes den Nijs, Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), will talk about the new plant health regulation, which will replace the phyto-guideline at the end of 2019. Den Nijs is concerned about these regulations, which could have far-reaching consequences for the seed potato sector.
The European Union (EU) currently has a phyto-directive. This is for when products are transported from the parcel to the customer. Quarantine organisms are listed here, but also organisms of which 1 to 2 may be on the product (including Chitwoodi and Globodera Pallida). These are important nematodes for European seed potato cultivation, but other sectors are also strictly controlled for this.
New EU Directive
The phyto-guideline applies until the end of 2019 and uses appendices for the quarantine organisms. The NVWA ensures that these guidelines are followed. A new plant health regulation will be introduced at the end of 2019. "The Netherlands was able to set additional requirements with the old phyto-guideline. This is no longer possible with the new directive," explains Den Nijs. "There will be 1 European list of quarantine organisms. The list of non-quarantine organisms will be checked via the inspection authorities."
"A third list of 'priority organisms' is new in European regulations. At the moment, this means that all harmful organisms on the current phyto list will be added to the new quarantine list," says Den Nijs. "The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is going to examine all organisms and put them on the correct list. This will give them an equal rating and national differences will no longer be present, so that they cannot exert any influence. However, Dutch requests are set aside for the time being."
Priority list is a disaster
The priority organisms include organisms that do not occur or only occur to a limited extent in the EU. Each Member State may designate a number of organisms. If an organism is present, the country must conduct research, prepare a scenario, provide information, inform the EU and take action. "A tough list of requirements", says Den Nijs. "A number of EU countries have responded to the priority list and 5 countries have designated Chitwoodi as a 'priority plague'. That also applies to Pallida. If they actually make it onto the priority list, this will be a disaster for the sector. meet a strict list of requirements. In our opinion, this is not feasible."
Safe for now
"The full list of the EU must be established in 2019. The full system must be up and running in 2023. The list has currently been set up, but Chitwoodi, Pallida and Fallax, among others, are not yet included. The final list will be announced at the end of 2018. AM is not expected to receive priority status. It is up to my colleagues in Brussels and The Hague to deal tactically with this matter. Politics can quickly draw a line through the bill. When 1 Member State is obstructive, this has far-reaching consequences."
Niels van der Boom
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