Revised Canada-U.S. Guidelines for Potato Cyst Nematodes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has posted the revised “Guidelines on Surveillance and Phytosanitary Actions for the Potato Cyst Nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida.” The revisions enhance our ability to prevent the spread of potato cyst nematodes (PCN) while limiting disruptions to trade. These guidelines replace those released in June 2009.

 

Revisions include:  

• A reduction in the amount of soil sampling and testing that is required to ship seed potatoes between Canada and the United States, and 

• Adjustments to clarify the process for releasing regulated agricultural land and for deregulating fields that are no longer used for agriculture.

 

Growers who intend to ship seed potatoes to Canada should contact their local APHIS office for more information.

 

APHIS and CFIA consulted extensively with stakeholders in revising these guidelines. The revisions, which are already in effect, allow the safe trade of seed potatoes between our two countries to continue.

 

To view and print a copy of the guidelines, please go to the PCN page of the APHIS’ web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/pcn and click on the link for the “Potato Cyst Nematode Guidelines” under the Pest Management heading. For more information on the guidelines, please contact Jonathan Jones, Policy Manager at (301) 851-2128, or Terri Dunahay, Trade Director at (301) 851-2369.