July 9, 2025 | 16:16 GMT +7
July 9, 2025 | 16:16 GMT +7
Hotline: 0913.378.918
Seed merchants warned that illegal potato imports could bring a "grave risk" of crop pests and diseases to East Anglia. Photo credit: Archant
Warnings were raised in a national farming magazine last month that 1,000 tonnes of "small ware" Agria potatoes have been imported as uncertified seed potatoes for spring planting in west Norfolk, south Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.
This would be a breach of biosecurity rules, following the post-Brexit ban on importing seed potatoes into the UK.
An East Anglian seed merchant, who did not wish to be identified, said there is a "grave risk of disease, and transmission of pests due to this lack of policing by our government body, Defra".
A government plant health spokesman said they would pursue "robust action" against any infringements as "the biosecurity risk of such practices cannot be overstated".
But the seed merchant said time was running out, as prosecuting people after the crops were planted was "similar to bolting the barn door after the horse has run away".
"The potatoes are imported in as 'small ware' under a passport system which does not identify the variety by name," they said.
"A month on from the discovery, nothing has been done whatsoever. Time is rapidly running away.
"The growers involved could end up being fined and these people should consider that they not only put themselves at great risk, but also others not involved in this heinous act.
"The rules are simple, the planting of ware potatoes or any other potatoes not obtained under any officially-approved programme or certification scheme are not legally allowed to be planted. If they are described as 'small ware' they are to be consumed for table or processing use only immediately or very shortly after they arrive in our area.
"Several ware and seed merchants in East Anglia and beyond are nervous and want Defra to react."
A spokesman for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which is sponsored by Defra said: “We are aware of some operators attempting to circumvent plant health and marketing requirements following the ending of the temporary authorisation to market EU seed potatoes in Great Britain.
"These breaches are extremely serious and the biosecurity risk of such practices cannot be overstated.
“APHA will be pursuing robust action against any infringements and will be carrying out both general and targeted surveillance to ensure compliance – with enforcement action taken where offences are identified.”
(edp24)
(VAN) How a system designed to protect the world’s biggest rainforest is funding businesses with a track record of illegal deforestation.
(VAN) Pressure is growing on companies to adopt the cage-free commitment for their egg supplies. Many food companies said their eggs would be from cage-free systems by the end of this year (2025).
(VAN) Water shortages hitting crops, energy and health as crisis gathers pace amid climate breakdown.
(VAN) The initiatives focus on forestry management, fisheries transformation and land restoration.
(VAN) Director-General QU Dongyu addresses the 6th AU-EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference.
(VAN) In the suburbs of Beijing, there is an agricultural center spanning over 150 hectares dedicated to research, demonstration, and application of high-tech and precision agriculture.
(VAN) Researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new environmentally friendly fertilizer additive that significantly enhances crop yields while reducing emissions of harmful gases.