Melissa O’Dell (301) 734-5222
Jerry Redding (202) 720-4623
JAPAN REOPENS ITS MARKET TO U.S. CHIPPING POTATOES
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2007--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that Japan has reopened its market to U.S. chipping potatoes following the completion of a scientific evaluation.
Japan temporarily suspended U.S. imports of all varieties of chipping potatoes in April 2006 immediately following the first U.S. detection of potato cyst nematode (PCN), Globodera pallida, in Idaho.
After conducting a detailed scientific evaluation, Japanese officials concluded that the isolated detection presents no risk of introducing PCN in Japan if the United States takes the following actions:
- The potatoes may only be shipped from these designated states: Arizona, Wisconsin, Oregon, California, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Maine and Washington;
- The potato fields must be tested and certified to be free of PCN prior to export; and
- The potatoes must be washed before exporting.
Before Idaho is eligible to export chipping potatoes to Japan, the state must complete a comprehensive PCN survey. Currently, all U.S. chipping potatoes exported to Japan must be grown from seed potatoes produced outside of Idaho. APHIS will continue to work with Idaho and Japan to allow for the export of chipping potatoes from Idaho.
The U.S. potato industry estimates that chipping potato exports to Japan will approach $2 million within the next three years.
USDA, in coordination with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, confirmed a finding of PCN April 19 in a soil sample collected from a potato processing facility in Idaho.
PCN is a major pest of potato crops in cool-temperate areas. It primarily affects plants within the potato family including tomatoes, eggplants, and some weeds. If left uncontrolled, nematodes can cause up to 80 percent yield loss. The potato cyst nematode is widely distributed in many potato-growing regions throughout the world. In North America, the nematode is also known to be present on the island of Newfoundland, Canada. Potato cyst nematode infestations may be associated with patches of poor growth. Affected potato plants may exhibit yellowing, wilting or death of foliage--none of which has been observed in Idaho potato fields.
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