Changes have been proposed to the seed potato Safe Haven assurance scheme which would mean Brown Rot and Epitrix would be covered on top of the existing Ring Rot and Dickeya.
The changes also mean the scheme would apply to areas such as water use, storage best practice and traceability.
The revised standards are going out for official consultation with industry, and AHDB will contact all potato levy payers in the next few weeks to encourage them to respond to the proposals.
The scheme, which was introduced after a Ring Rot outbreak in England and Wales in 2003 from seed sourced from the Netherlands, has been largely successful at protecting GB seed stocks from both Ring Rot and Dickeya, with 60% of growers certified (by area) under the Safe Haven Standards.
Vicky Smith, technical manager from the assurance body, Red Tractor, said a grower survey had identified key ways in which standards could be strengthened.
“While the standards have served the industry well the world does move on, and the potato sector is no different, we need standards which can cope with the changing environment, with political issues like Brexit, and of course, climate change,” she said.
The new standards include closer monitoring of water use and storage and there is also a new standard for growers to have systems in place which will ensure traceability of all seed and ware crops on farm.
The Safe Haven Standards will be open to industry consultation for six weeks on August 19.
