Scottish Government Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon has warned Scotland stands to lose its EU seed potato market in a no-deal situation. In a letter to the Secretary of State Michael Gove, the Scottish Minister highlights Scotland’s potential third country status in a no-deal scenario and we would be “unable to export seed potatoes to the EU.”

Currently, the Scottish seed potato industry accounts for 13.5% of the EU market. More than 80% of seed potatoes in the UK are of Scottish origin.

The MSP states that a no-deal situation “could reduce our critical mass and potentially close the door to further overseas opportunities at a time where we have been opening doors to countries such as China”.

“On leaving the EU, the UK must seek third-country equivalence status to be able to continue to export our seed potatoes to the European market. It is now, at this late stage, unlikely that Defra will be able to secure third country equivalence status for seed potatoes in time for the 30 March 2019,”she said.

NFU Scotland policy manager Peter Loggie said: “The value and volume of seed potato exports from Scotland to Europe is an important part of the wider trade in seed potatoes to the rest of the UK and to non-EU nations, all of which driven by our hard-won reputation for high health stocks.

“We continue discussions with fellow UK Unions and the Scottish Government on the issue and what the solutions should be. Our concern is that while our seed potatoes meet all EU phytosanitary and seed potato regulations, if there is no deal on 30 March 2019, then seed potato sales will be blocked because they will have become a third-country product and only EU-grown seed potatoes can be grown on in the EU.”