PM 3/93 (1) Management of phytosanitary risks for potato crops resulting from movement of soil associated with root crops and potatoes

Specific scope This Standard describes the phytosanitary risks posed to potato by the introduction of potentially infested soil onto land that will be used to grow a potato crop. Such soil can result from the grading, packaging and processing of potato tubers and may contain tubers and other potato plant debris. It can also be soil associated with other harvested root crops, which have been grown on land that has previously been used to grow potato. This Standard provides recommendations to NPPOs to set rules for the return of soil to agricultural fields and to authorize its safe/appropriate treatment and disposal, based on a risk assessment carried out by the handling facilities. It also provides guidance for operators (growers and industry) to minimize the phytosanitary risks associated with soil along the whole production chain, from growing the crop to final packaging or processing. The risk posed by soil associated with plants for planting (including seed potatoes) and the case of soil known to be infested by a specific regulated pest are not covered by this Standard. Specific approval and amendment First approved in 2021–09. Authors and contributors are given in the Acknowledgements section.