§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
How often imported potato stock is tested for disease control purposes. [HL5578]
§ Lord WhittyDefra inspectors carried out over 1,000 visual inspections of potato lots from outside the UK during the 2002–03 season and 451 laboratory tests for ring rot and brown rot. Defra aims to inspect all imports from third countries and a proportion of intra EU consignments depending on the level of risk. In addition, all imported seed potatoes entering the seed potato classification scheme are tested for the presence of potato ring rot.
§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Government of the Netherlands carry out checks on potatoes exported to the United Kingdom. [HL5579]
§ Lord WhittyThe Netherlands carries out regular surveys for potato ring rot and potato brown rot as required by EC legislation. We understand that in addition, the Netherlands carries out a ring rot and brown rot test on every lot of seed potatoes produced in the country, including those exported to the UK.
§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will seek compensation from the Netherlands following the outbreak of potato ring rot. [HL5580]
§ Lord WhittyThe cause of the outbreak is still under investigation. Once the source has been confirmed, a decision will be taken on any further action that is necessary.
§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps the Dutch authorities are taking with regard to placing restrictions on potato movements from the farm of origin and from contiguous farms. [HL5581]
§ Lord WhittyThe Netherlands are still undertaking tests at the farm of origin, and will take action in compliance with the terms of the EC Directive 93/85/ EC on the control of potato ring rot.
§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the contingency plans for the control of potato disease were last reviewed. [HL5582]
§ Lord WhittyThe contingency plan for potato ring rot was reviewed during 2003, before the current outbreak, and is available on the department's website. The contingency plan for Colorado beetle was reviewed after an exercise based around a simulated outbreak in 2002. Other pests and diseases are covered by a generic plant health contingency plan which was last reviewed in 2002.
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§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many inspections were carried out in the last year for which figures are available on potato seeds by the plant health and seeds inspectors. [HL5583]
§ Lord WhittyDuring the 2002–03 season, 425 visual inspections were carried out by Defra's plant health and seeds inspectors of seed potatoes grown in England and Wales. In addition, 133 samples were taken for laboratory testing for ring rot and brown rot.