The government has confirmed that, following the Windsor Framework, the export of seed potatoes from the mainland to Northern Ireland can resume from 30 September.
Under the new requirements, to move seed potatoes to Northern Ireland exporters must be registered as a professional operator and can then apply for authorisation by completing an authorisation form. Those who are already registered on the SPCS, do not need to register again, although they may need to provide supplementary information including informing the competent authority that you wish to be registered for Northern Ireland plant health labels (NIPHL).
Authorisation is handled by APHA in England and Wales, or SASA in Scotland. Before moving seed potatoes to Northern Ireland, you must notify APHA or Scottish Government that you intend to move seed potatoes, including the SPCS certificate number of the stock, the quantity you want to move, the container size and the number of NIPHLs required.
Operators must only move seed potatoes to Northern Ireland to other professional operators and the seed potatoes can only be planted in Northern Ireland by commercial growers registered as professional operators. Furthermore, when a NIPHL is used to move seed potatoes from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in accordance with Northern Ireland SPCS requirements, their resulting harvested seed potatoes can be classified as Northern Irish seed potatoes under the SPCS and sold into the EU.
Gordon MP Richard Thomson welcomed the news but added that it was unbelievable that the UK government has not raised the issue of seed potato exports to the EU since March. “Having a date for the resumption of seed potato exports to Northern Ireland is undoubtedly welcome and provides certainty where previously there was none,” he said. “However, the admission from Defra that the issue of lifting the ban on exports to the EU has not been discussed for nearly six months is absolutely astounding.
“I worry that it provides an indication of the importance – or lack of – that the UK government attaches to restoring Scottish seed potatoes – renowned the world over for their high quality – to their rightful export markets.”