Potato growers are being “strongly encouraged” to have imports of seed and ware potatoes from Britain delivered to Ireland before 1 January 2021.
In a recent trader notice, the Department of Agriculture (DAFM) has warned that from January next year, the UK will become a third country (non-EU member state).
As a result, EU plant health rules in the area of intra-union trade of plants, plant products, seed and ware potatoes, will no longer apply to the UK.
EU plant health rules set out a harmonised policy for each member state to protect against the introduction and spread of organisms that are harmful to plant and plant products.
It is understood that the UK has applied to the EU for third country equivalence for the export of certified seed and ware potatoes to the EU
When the withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU ends, the import of certified seed and ware potatoes from Britain will be prohibited.
However, under the terms of the Northern Ireland protocol, trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will be unaffected.
It is understood that the UK has applied to the EU for third country equivalence for the export of certified seed and ware potatoes to the EU.
However, the EU has indicated this process will only begin upon the completion of trade negotiations with the UK, which may not leave enough time for growers to complete the various import notification requirements.
From next year the import of certified seed and ware potatoes from Britain will not be allowed.
In any future arrangement, imports will likely have to be accompanied by a UK phytosanitary certificate, which must be aligned to EU plant health rules. This will carry a degree of increased costs.
The main concern for ware potatoes is the impact this could have on varieties imported into Ireland for chipping. In 2018, just over 500ac of potatoes were grown here to supply the fresh chip market. This means that the majority of our chipping varieties are imported. Of these imports, a large proportion originates from Britain.
However, the real risk to Irish growers is the potential for disruption to potato seed supply next season.
Seed imports
Ireland relies heavily on imported potato seed, much of which originates from Scotland. Since 1997, potato seed production in the Republic of Ireland has reduced by an estimated 87%. This equates to around 33,000t.
This occured for a number of reasons, including a reduction in ware potato crop, changes in regulatory requirements and cost, increased disease pressure and an increase in UK and European operations of Irish seed companies.
In order to prevent issues with seed next spring, DAFM has strongly advised growers to organise the delivery of 2021 seed as soon as possible
Today, Scotland remains our largest source of imports. Each year, we import over 3,000t of potato seed from the country. This is followed by Northern Ireland, where an average of 900t are imported each year. This trade should not be disrupted. England represents our third-largest source of seed imports.
In order to prevent issues with seed next spring, DAFM has strongly advised growers to organise the delivery of 2021 seed as soon as possible. This will mean seed could arrive up to four months ahead of when they normally would and will require additional storage space.
Growers are being warned to secure their UK potato seed supply early.
A reminder that, under the current system, DAFM must be notified at least 72 hours in advance of all imports. Import notifications can be made to potatoonline@agriculture.gov.ie using the excel form found on the seed potato page of the DAFM website.
The Department were asked to provide further clarifications around the import of British potato seed after Brexit, but did not provide a reply at the time of going to print.
Potato growers are being “strongly encouraged” to have imports of seed and ware potatoes from Britain delivered to Ireland before 1 January 2021.
In a recent trader notice, the Department of Agriculture (DAFM) has warned that from January next year, the UK will become a third country (non-EU member state).
As a result, EU plant health rules in the area of intra-union trade of plants, plant products, seed and ware potatoes, will no longer apply to the UK.
EU plant health rules set out a harmonised policy for each member state to protect against the introduction and spread of organisms that are harmful to plant and plant products.
It is understood that the UK has applied to the EU for third country equivalence for the export of certified seed and ware potatoes to the EU
When the withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU ends, the import of certified seed and ware potatoes from Britain will be prohibited.
However, under the terms of the Northern Ireland protocol, trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will be unaffected.
It is understood that the UK has applied to the EU for third country equivalence for the export of certified seed and ware potatoes to the EU.
However, the EU has indicated this process will only begin upon the completion of trade negotiations with the UK, which may not leave enough time for growers to complete the various import notification requirements.
From next year the import of certified seed and ware potatoes from Britain will not be allowed.
In any future arrangement, imports will likely have to be accompanied by a UK phytosanitary certificate, which must be aligned to EU plant health rules. This will carry a degree of increased costs.
The main concern for ware potatoes is the impact this could have on varieties imported into Ireland for chipping. In 2018, just over 500ac of potatoes were grown here to supply the fresh chip market. This means that the majority of our chipping varieties are imported. Of these imports, a large proportion originates from Britain.
However, the real risk to Irish growers is the potential for disruption to potato seed supply next season.
Seed imports
Ireland relies heavily on imported potato seed, much of which originates from Scotland. Since 1997, potato seed production in the Republic of Ireland has reduced by an estimated 87%. This equates to around 33,000t.
This occured for a number of reasons, including a reduction in ware potato crop, changes in regulatory requirements and cost, increased disease pressure and an increase in UK and European operations of Irish seed companies.
In order to prevent issues with seed next spring, DAFM has strongly advised growers to organise the delivery of 2021 seed as soon as possible
Today, Scotland remains our largest source of imports. Each year, we import over 3,000t of potato seed from the country. This is followed by Northern Ireland, where an average of 900t are imported each year. This trade should not be disrupted. England represents our third-largest source of seed imports.
In order to prevent issues with seed next spring, DAFM has strongly advised growers to organise the delivery of 2021 seed as soon as possible. This will mean seed could arrive up to four months ahead of when they normally would and will require additional storage space.
Growers are being warned to secure their UK potato seed supply early.
A reminder that, under the current system, DAFM must be notified at least 72 hours in advance of all imports. Import notifications can be made to potatoonline@agriculture.gov.ie using the excel form found on the seed potato page of the DAFM website.
The Department were asked to provide further clarifications around the import of British potato seed after Brexit, but did not provide a reply at the time of going to print.
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