CFIA looking for solutions to dealing with the disease.   Ottawa—Seed and fresh potatoes from Prince Edward Island cannot be shipped to the U.S. while the Canadian Food Inspection Agency looks for ways to prevent the spreading of potato wart disease discovered in two fields there in October. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has established strict regulatory measures to prevent spread of the disease to the rest of Canada through a Ministerial Order. CFIA will work with the provincial government and potato industry to explore scientific solutions to prevent the spreading of the disease, she said. The U.S. had expressed serious concerns to Canada over the potato wart discovery and said it would impose a ban on all PEI potatoes if Canada did not act first to suspend trade. Bibeau said, “We believe in the science, which tells us that the U.S. intention to suspend the trade of fresh potatoes from PEI goes beyond what is necessary to mitigate risk. With the proper mitigation measures, the trade of table stock and processing potatoes remains absolutely safe.” She said the government will “stand firm for Canadian interests and is committed to supporting potato growers and Prince Edward Island. I have raised the issue twice with my counterpart, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and we will explore every channel possible to give this issue the attention it deserves within the United States Government. Canada and the United States have a long history of engaging in bilateral trade based on science, and maintaining strong supply chains is more important than ever for both our countries.” The Business Risk Management program could be used to help PEI potato producers, she said. Discussions will continue with the province on what additional supports may be required to support them. David Bailey, Canada's Acting Chief Plant Health Officer, said it was important to note that potato wart poses no threat to human health or food safety, but is known to decrease yield on farms. Potato wart is spread through the movement of affected potatoes, soil and farm equipment. The CFIA surveys PEI potato fields annually for the disease and introduced a Potato Wart Domestic Long Term Management Plan with the objective to mitigate the disease's spread outside of the restricted areas in the province. Since 2000, potato wart has been found in 33 fields across the province. When potato wart is detected, land restriction controls are put in place on individual fields to restrict the movement of potatoes, plants, soil, and other articles that could result in the spread of potato wart outside of the regulated fields. This year's discoveries showed high levels of potato wart, and made it necessary to take Canada's strongest action against potato wart to date. The Ministerial Order introduces new risk mitigation measures such as brushing and washing potatoes to remove any soil to mitigate the risk of spread of potato wart. At the same time, they will allow PEI seed potato farms to operate and grow seed potatoes for use within the province and to maintain the continued movement of table stock and processing potatoes to other provinces.