The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food of the Government of Spain has officially granted permission for the importation of potatoes into the Canary Islands from the United Kingdom. This decision follows a statement by the regional government, in which they revealed that the State, as the competent authority in this area, has issued an Instruction allowing the entry of this tuber from the UK, except for Kent where the presence of the Colorado beetle was detected.
This authorization is based on information provided by the phytosanitary authorities of the UK, assuring that the pest has not established itself and that the British Government has taken appropriate measures in the affected areas.
Narvay Quintero, the Area Councillor, explained, "The Government of the Canary Islands lacks powers in this matter. However, in collaboration with the Government of Spain and local producers, we have worked together to find solutions to the potato shortage. We aim to protect the Canary Islands from the entry of this pest and to ensure a successful next harvest in the Islands, while also securing a stable supply of this essential dietary product."
In addition to granting import permission, a series of additional measures have been established concerning the packaging and labelling of the imported potatoes. These measures are designed to enhance and provide greater phytosanitary guarantees.
According to the new regulations, imported potatoes must undergo a thorough cleaning procedure involving brushing and/or washing to eliminate any traces of soil and harmful organisms. The acceptable percentage of soil present in the imported potatoes should not exceed 0.5%. Furthermore, the labelling must include essential information about the potatoes, such as species, farmer code, variety, size, and packaging date. It must also include traceability data, enabling the identification of the producer and the production area at the plot level.
Seed potatoes, in particular, must be packaged in new bags with a maximum capacity of 25 kilograms. These bags should be sealed and labelled in facilities authorized for this purpose, ensuring their health and traceability. All these procedures will be carried out under the official control of the corresponding phytosanitary authorities of the production areas.
Regarding potatoes intended for consumption, they may be presented in containers with a maximum capacity of 1.5 tons. These containers must also be sealed and labelled in authorized facilities, guaranteeing their health and traceability. Similar to seed potatoes, they will be closely monitored by phytosanitary authorities in the production areas.
To ensure compliance with these regulations, inspections will be conducted on 100% of potato shipments arriving from the United Kingdom. These measures aim to protect the agricultural ecosystem of the Canary Islands while securing a safe and reliable potato supply for the region.
