WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2022 – United States Division of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on the present time presented the resumption of tablestock potatoes from Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, into Puerto Rico. USDA has clear the importation of these potatoes under specified prerequisites poses puny threat of introducing potato wart disease, a soil-borne disease that reduces yield and marketability, to Puerto Rico.
“It’s severe that we nasty our agricultural substitute choices on sound science,” Vilsack acknowledged. “After pondering Puerto Rico’s low threat for potato wart due to the climate prerequisites, as well to the lack of a commercial potato manufacturing substitute on the island, we’re assured that with appropriate mitigations in region this substitute can resume safely, and the U.S. potato substitute will dwell safe.”
Canadian authorities had voluntarily suspended exports of all potatoes for consumption and planting from PEI following a most modern detection of potato wart disease. Potato wart is no longer diagnosed to happen within the U.S. and there are no longer any remedies readily accessible for its administration.
Starting up February 9, PEI can resume exporting tablestock potatoes consistent with exclaim USDA requirements and Canadian Meals Inspection Agency mitigations.
