TRADE AND MARKE T ING European potato breeders miss out on 30 million euros every year assessment of harmful organisms and subsequently their undesirability. An example of harm to nature are the nematodes, which are advancing from Portugal and which are harmful for certain tree species. A list of 250 quarantine organisms has been drawn up, based on the current directive. Ten organisms are now subject to a temporary urgency procedures. Four organisms are dealt with by the European Council of Ministers. These are Ring and Brown rot, Wart disease and nematodes. All these organisms are potato cultivation-related. ‘The current directive is therefore highly specific and detailed. Only the EU Council of Ministers can submit amendments for these four organisms.’ On the basis of the Phyto Directive, all imports from third countries (non-EU countries) are subject to an inspection regime at the external EU borders. The inspection is aimed at all plants, planting stock, vegetable and fruit. ‘The other side of inspection on imports from third countries is the relaxed attitude of the directive in respect of trade within the EU’, says Arijs. This is the result of the principle of freedom of trade within the Union. ‘The plant passport must guarantee that products are free from harmful organisms.’ Incidentally, that freedom does not apply to the import of seed potatoes from third countries. An exception is the import of seed from Switzerland and Canada. Canada is allowed to supply the southern EU Member states with planting stock. ‘The EU sets certain requirements for these imports. The EU Council checks every year whether dispensation for Canada is allowed.’ Brown rot compromise with Egypt The import of consumption potatoes from Egypt is also subject to certain requirements. That country can only export consumption potatoes to the EU if they are grown in Egyptian growing areas that are free from Brown rot. These free areas are determined every year. In the event of more than five interceptions of lots with Brown rot in a year, the EU border closes. ‘The number of five was the result of a compromise between Egypt and the EU.’ VAN ARENDONK CHAIRMAN OF EUROPATAT On Thursday 28 May, the general meeting of Europatat unanimously adopted the resolution to appoint Kees van Arendonk as chairman. He will replace Joop Stet, who has been the face of the European sector organisation for the trade in consumption and seed potatoes for many years. The Swiss, Peter Pfister, is succeeded by the Brit Collin Heron as vice-chairman. It is customary that the vice-chairmanship is held by the organisor of the Europatat Conference for the following year. This conference will take place in Edinburgh (Scotland) in 2010. NAO seed potato secretary Jan Gottschall has been appointed assistant secretary-general and will follow up Dirk Jan Immenga. According to Arijs, the agreement needs to be reviewed. The directive has been updated a few times, it’s true, but the foundation of the directive dates back to 1977. ‘The evaluation of the Phyto Directive should lead to a proper level of protection. It is good to reflect on decisions taken some time ago, the reason being current new developments: biomass has made its entry, world trade has expanded and the number of EU Member states has increased.’ The evaluation starts with consulting the sector. A private consultancy agency – commissioned by Brussels – is going to draw up a questionnaire, which will be sent to all interested parties in the EU Member states. Questions that Arijs has on this are: ‘Is it sensible to start checking organisms that are already known to have spread throughout the EU? Are the import checks strict enough? Does the plant passport fulfil expectations? Is it necessary to set up an inspector training at European level? What is the overlap with the EU traffic directives?’ Quite a few questions which the consultancy agency may well include in the questionnaire It will have time to do so until June 2010. Before that directive will actually have been amended, it will be 2012 or 2013. The NAO is, naturally, involved in forming an opinion at national level. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food Quality has invited the trade/sector organisations for this purpose. ● Jan Gottschall Secretary seed potatoes NAO Functioning of royalty systems in the EU (Source: ESA) Potato World 2009 • number 3 7 Pagina 6
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