Potato wart in Prince Edward Island

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is dedicated to safeguarding plants, which helps enhance the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy.

In October 2021, the CFIA confirmed the presence of potato wart in 2 fields on Prince Edward Island (PEI). We immediately initiated an investigation and implemented strict regulatory measures to prevent potential spread.

Background

Potato wart poses no threat to human health or food safety. However, it does impact the economic return for potato growers by reducing yield and making potatoes unmarketable.

In Canada and many other countries, potato wart is regulated as a quarantine pest. The CFIA is therefore required to put controls in place that reduce the risk of spreading potato wart both domestically and internationally.

If potato wart is found on a potato tuber or as resting spores in the soil, the find may trigger:

Land-use restrictions
Movement controls
Requirements for cleaning and disinfecting equipment
Soil sampling and testing

The fungus is extremely persistent and the only efficient way to control it is to prevent the spread into new locations.

Canada's Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan

The Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan supports the CFIA's monitoring and management activities for this pest. It includes requirements for regulated fields, such as phytosanitary actions and surveillance, as well as mandatory follow-up actions.

With any finding of potato wart, the CFIA must immediately open an investigation so it can trace all associated fields and any implicated machinery and shared soil because they pose a risk of spreading the fungus if not properly controlled.

Information on the Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan

Potato wart findings in Prince Edward Island fields

As of the last quarterly update in June 2023, we have found potato wart in 37 fields in PEI since 2000. The findings in October 2021, February 2022, July 2022, December 2022, and April 2023 represent the largest ongoing investigations since the pest was first detected in PEI in 2000. The size and scope of these ongoing investigations required the strongest regulatory action to date to help protect against the further spread of potato wart outside of PEI.

Soil sampling

Soil is a known pathway for potato wart to spread. In fact, the fungus can remain dormant in soil for more than 40 years while it waits for the ideal condition to grow: a cool, wet spring and a nearby potato plant.

Soil sampling is very complex and laborious. In order for test results to be internationally recognized and valid, the samples must be collected by trained CFIA staff and meet specific standards.

Strict biosecurity measures are critical during sampling
- The CFIA is required to clean and disinfect all sampling equipment and even footwear that come in contact with soil during the process
- These procedures are necessary to make sure that soil does not move from one field to another
The CFIA is only able to collect soil samples when the ground isn't frozen

Compensation under the Potato Wart Compensation Regulations

As part of its role to protect plant health, the CFIA continues to apply regulatory measures to help prevent the spread of potato wart and to maintain the country's credibility and reputation with trading partners, critical in maintaining market access.

As part of the Agency's ongoing efforts to support compliance to these regulatory measures, CFIA has recently provided an update on compensation for some growers under the Potato Wart Compensation Regulations (PWCR).

To be eligible to apply for compensation, the PWCR requires that a notice to treat, prohibit, restrict or dispose be issued by an inspector. This compensation supports growers who are complying with the important control measures in place to prevent the spread of potato wart and allows them to recover some of their losses. For more information, contact CFIA's Plant Health Offices.

Beyond the PWCR, other financial assistance may be available through programs administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), and, in some cases, provincial or territorial governments. For more information, contact your local AAFC office and/or your provincial/territorial agriculture ministry office.

Find out if a property is affected by movement restrictions

Potato wart is a regulated pest in Canada. Controls are in place to help contain, control and prevent the spread of potato wart both in and outside Canada. There are currently restrictions in place under the Potato Wart Order (Ministerial Order) related to movement within and outside of the province of Prince Edward Island.

Restrictions include the movement of:

seed
table stock
processing potatoes
other things (farm equipment, soil, sod, plants for planting, etc…)

Specific restrictions may also apply to fields categorized under the Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan.

Our goal is to help prevent the spread of potato wart through movement of soil and other high risk things.

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Potato wart in Prince Edward Island

On this page

Background

Canada's Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan

Potato wart findings in Prince Edward Island fields

Soil sampling

Compensation under the Potato Wart Compensation Regulations

Find out if a property is affected by movement restrictions

More information

News

Notices to industry