Potato imports from Spain: reducing the risk of Epitrix
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Detail of outcome
We received 8 responses to this consultation.
An amendment (the Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2016) will come into force on 24 February 2016 to supplement EU measures already in place. These measures apply to potatoes exported from outbreak areas in Spain that are under the control of the Spanish Plant Health Service. The Amendment Order requires that all other potatoes to be imported into England from mainland Spain must be washed first, to kill or remove any potato flea beetles (Epitrix) which might be present.
Original consultation
Consultation description
We want to know what you think about our proposal to make it compulsory to wash potatoes before they are imported from Spain.
This is to protect against the risk of introducing Epitrix into the UK. A potato pest, Epitrix would be very damaging to our potato industry. The proposed changes in legislation are in response to several cases where we intercepted potatoes damaged by Epitrix from Spain in 2015. The new legislation should be in place before the main period for importing potatoes from Spain starts in 2016, which is from February. This proposal affects those who import, process, trade and grow potatoes.
Documents
Last updated 19 February 2016 + show all updates
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Published summary of responses to the consultation.
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First published.