The Commission has given permission to import Egyptian potatoes to the EU during the import season 2009/2010. This although shipments were confiscated last year because of contamination with Pseudomonas solanacearum.
During the last import season 6 confiscations by the EU were registered. This led on 26 August to the EU imposing an embargo on Egyptian potatoes. Consequently Egypt lodged a report in connection with the contaminated potatoes with the EU. In this report they declare that the contamination is the result of not conforming to the cultivation and export instructions of the EU. Egypt have imposed sanctions on the companies involved by prohibiting them to export during the next three seasons. The areas from where the contaminated potatoes came will also not receive export permits.
