Mexican judge bans import of fresh US potatoes

Response SAGARPA (Mexico):
The risks associated with the import of potatoes from the United States were mitigated.

A risk analysis was conducted by scientists from Mexico, the United States and the American Organization of Plant Protection

Enrique Sánchez Cruz, chief director of the National Service of Health, Food Safety and Quality (SENASICA)

"Only import of potatoes for consumption was allowed from the United States and no (seed) potatoes for propagation of potatoes, thus mitigating any phytosanitary risks for Mexico."

The federal official said import was only allowed for washed potatoes treated with sprout inhibitors - which makes them useless as seed potatoes - in packaging labeled "for human consumption" and not containing any sprouts or soil.

During a tour of the laboratories of the institute the chief director of the agency of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) said that the phytosanitary health can never be compromised. That's why negotiations with the phytosanitary authorities of the United States took place, to create a bilateral agreement that allowed the trade of potatoes between the two countries.

He said the risk analysis was conducted by scientists from Mexico, the United States and the American Organization of Plant Protection (NAPPO) and based on this risk analysis mitigation measures were established.. These regulations were implemented, settling the risks that various pests could cause from a scientific point of view.

Sánchez Cruz said that the institute respects the decisions of judicial authorities, but that the legal department of SAGARPA is studying the injunction on the import of potatoes from the United States by the Seventh District court based in Los Mochis, Sinaloa

He pointed out that the Federal Legislation on phytosanitary issues mandated SAGARPA for all or part of the country to take steps to ensure that an appropriate level of protection is in place for decisions regarding the regulation on the import of agricultural products.

Finally, he stressed that SAGARPA was committed to protect the national food production and to create the necessary conditions to supply domestic demand at affordable prices and to guarantee the availability of healthy, accessible and good quality food.

Source: SAGARPA, published June 29, 2016

Response National Potato Council (United States)

John Keeling, National Potato Council CEO and executive vice president:

“The judge’s decision does not change the current status of the U.S. ability to ship to the 26 kilometer border zone.”

“This is a single case among many and it does not determine the final outcome of the U.S. ability to ship to the interior of Mexico."

Source: National Potato Council (NPC)