GB Potatoes is pleased to announce they have joined Horticulture Crop Protection Ltd (HCP) on behalf of the British seed potato industry. This important step has been made possible through a grant secured from AHDB, using the remaining Potato Levy funds.
HCP was created by the UK horticultural sector to take on the essential task of processing Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU) and Emergency Authorisation (EA) applications for crop protection products to the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
EAMU and EA applications are costly, technically demanding, and time-consuming, making them difficult for individual seed potato growers. Once authorised through HCP, the products become available to all growers of the crop — providing sector-wide benefit.
To manage this process, GB Potatoes will act as secretariat for a newly formed Technical Working Group. This group will include agronomists, seed growers, and representatives from industry bodies. Together, they will collaborate with HCP to assess and prioritise the seed sector’s plant protection needs.
At the heart of the group’s work will be the development and upkeep of a Potato Risk Register — a document that highlights major pest, disease, and weed threats, and identifies gaps in available plant protection products (PPPs). Leveraging HCP’s technical expertise, the group will assess which products are most likely to receive authorisation. Regular meetings will use the Risk Register to determine where EAMU or EA applications are most urgently needed. This intelligence will guide engagement with agrochemical companies, who evaluate whether they have existing or pipeline products that could meet the sector’s needs. It’s the role of the technical group to communicate the crop-specific urgency and build the case for support.
High-grade seed potato production underpins the entire British potato industry. The quality and health of seed directly influence the success of ware production and the wider supply chain.
