Renewed Co-operation Between EU and UK Step in Right Direction for Potato Seed Sector

IFA Potato Chair Sean Ryan said that re-establishment of closer trade relations between the EU and the UK is a step forward for the potato seed trade.  The EU and the UK have agreed to start negotiations on an SPS deal on sanitary, phytosanitary, food safety and other products which will allow the trade of seed potato to re-commence.

“A new Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement (SPS agreement) will now need to be put in place, the timeframe for which has not yet been disclosed. The ambition of the trade deal will be to make trade easier. However, the devil will be in the detail,” said.

Pre-Brexit, Ireland was heavily reliant on the United Kingdom (UK) market for patoto seed, importing approximately 6,000t each year.

IFA has extensively lobbied for a temporary derogation to allow seed to be imported from Scotland since Brexit. IFA met with Irish MEPs in Brussels last November and in March. We also presented a joint letter to the EU Commission through Copa Cogeca, requesting a temporary derogation.

“IFA will continue to advocate for the expansion of the Irish potato seed sector, but this will take time and additional investment. A temporary derogation to allow seed from Scotland is necessary,” he said.