Several potato growers in my area, County Kilkenny, have brought to my attention the possible disaster that could occur if the potato disease, ring rot, were to arrive on our shores. The farm in Wales where the disease broke out has been exporting seed potatoes to Ireland for five years. I ask the Department of Agriculture and Food to investigate farms which have received seed potatoes from that farm. What measures is the Department taking to ensure that the disease does not enter this country because it has the potential to do to the potato industry what foot and mouth disease did to the livestock industry? I urge the Department to do something as soon as possible before it is too late.
Adjournment Matters. - Potato Production.
Potato production in Ireland is now predominantly a specialist farm activity, in which approximately 650 growers engage. Some 150 producers account for almost three quarters of the national production of approximately half a million tonnes of potatoes per annum. These were valued last year at approximately €96 million at farm gate level. In common with all agricultural commodities, potatoes are an internationally traded product and there are, accordingly, imports and exports, mainly for processing and seed. The need for vigilance in maintaining the high plant health status of the national potato crop is therefore of paramount importance. Ring rot is a serious bacterial disease, but is confined to potatoes and is not airborne. It does not affect humans, animals or other crops. It has affected potatoes in North America and was first detected in Europe in 1907. It was a major problem particularly in Scandinavia but good cultural practices, eradication and preventive measures, coupled with seed certification, have been effective in controlling it.
While the disease has now been reported in most EU member states, except Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Luxembourg, it occurs at low levels in these countries. Measures to detect, eradicate and prevent the spread of the pathogen, have been set down in a EU Council directive, which is applicable in all member states. This directive is complementary and additional to directives on the marketing of seed potatoes. The planting of infected seed and poor crop rotation pose the greatest risk of the introduction and spread of ring rot. All member states, including those which have remained disease free, must undertake an annual survey to establish the status of the disease. My Department is responsible for these surveys and last year 600 samples were taken across the whole potato supply chain, including imports from the European Union and third countries. The sampling regime is based on risk analysis and to date all samples which have been analysed by the State laboratory, have proved negative.
Member states may take additional measures in regard to planting material. Ireland has already availed of this option. The current problem is not considered as warranting further measures which would disrupt trade. Ireland produces most of its own seed needs and only the highest grades of imported seed can be marketed here. Scotland is the main source of imported seed and like Ireland, is considered a high grade seed production area within the European Union. Importing potatoes for consumption has been a feature of the Irish trade for over 25 years. As I have indicated, these imports are also subject to sampling for ring rot and other pathogens, and last year samples from ten different countries were taken, all of which showed negative results. It is also a requirement under EU and national regulations that all potatoes sold here are identified or labelled to allow trace-back through the production chain. This is a very important factor in the event of a disease outbreak.
Recently, a single infection of ring rot on one farm has been confirmed in the United Kingdom. This triggered a review of our measures which have proved adequate to date. We will continue to monitor the situation closely in consultation with the UK authorities. A joint review of strategies to combat the risk of infection is also under way, between our Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland. All commercial growers, with the co-operation of the IFA, are being asked individually to identify their source of seed to supplement existing information for risk assessment for this disease. Some re-orientation of the existing controls, with an increase in inspection levels, follow-up sampling and testing, is also being undertaken. Growers and traders are being advised on the precautions which they should take to reduce the risk of an outbreak and spread of the disease. Such measures include good rotation and hygiene and the purchase of seed from reliable sources. Traders should ensure that there is proper labelling and documentation and deal only in quality potato products, at all times. My Department has taken all of the necessary precautions and measures to deal with this threat to our potato industry but we will continue to keep the situation under constant review.
My specific point is that this infected farm has been selling seed to this country for five years, according to the growers to whom I have spoken. If the Minister of State cannot answer my question now perhaps he could do so later. The farmer has records of those to whom he has sold seed potatoes. We need to do everything we can to keep the disease out. The Minister of State's answer is satisfactory but is anything being done to trace the destination of product from this farm and to elicit whether there will be any infection or disease here as result of the seed bought in therefrom?
We are very satisfied that the measures in place are adequate to protect the potato crop here, and imported potatoes. However, our potato inspectorate is monitoring the situation and taking into account the information that is available. Any further necessary measures will be taken.