Notice to Industry - Ministerial Order regulating potato wart on Prince Edward Island

November 21, 2021 - This is the third industry notice.

Since the initial detection of potato wart in PEI in 2000, the CFIA has carried out a thorough and risk-based program to contain, control and prevent the spread of potato wart. Potato wart has been detected on other farms since 2000, and each detection has been addressed immediately.

Potato wart has never been detected in any other province, except in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador where it has been under regulatory control for decades (1909).

On October 1 and October 14, 2021, the CFIA confirmed the detection of the potato wart fungus, Synchytrium endobioticum, a reportable regulated pest, in two separate fields of processing potatoes on two separate farms. The fields are related to previous potato wart detections, and have been under surveillance as per the Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan. Both potato farms are located in Prince Edward Island.

On November 21, 2021, a Ministerial Order was made under the authority of the Plant Protection Act. The Order is designed to restrict the movement of regulated things from PEI. This Order will enable the development of certification programs to support affected industries in PEI and ensure that regulated commodities are certified to mitigate concerns related to potato wart.

The Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan remains in place.

The CFIA currently has Ministerial Orders in place for potato cyst nematode in Saint-Amable (2007) and Central Saanich (1980). These examples demonstrate the effective use of Ministerial Orders to restrict the movement of regulated things to contain, control and prevent the spread of soil-born pests.