Potatoes

Scotland is recognised as a country which only produces seed potatoes of high health status (Pre-basic and Basic).

Seed Potato Classification Scheme

Our aim is to safeguard, all stages of potato production. SASA is the Certifying Authority for seed potatoes in Scotland and is responsible for the management and administration of the Scottish Seed Potato Classification Scheme, including a register of seed crops in Scotland.

Potato pests and diseases

SASA produce a series of guidance on the potato pests and diseases that are a high risk to Scotland:

Information on other pests and diseases is available from AHDB pests-diseases-tool.

For further information on potato pests and diseases in Scotland contact your local area office, or email: potatoexports@sasa.gov.scot

Potato exports

From 1 January 2021 seed and ware potatoes from the UK will not be able to be marketed to the EU, or NI, as we will be treated as a 3rd country.

Potato EU Exit Guidance | SASA (Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture)

We have produced guidance on the conditions and phytosanitary requirements for the importation of Scottish potatoes into individual countries outside the EU.

Phytosanitary certificate

Compliance with the phytosanitary requirements is checked during official growing crop and tuber inspections. Occasionally some additional testing may be required to assure compliance with a specific requirement, for example absence of viruses. A phytosanitary certificate will only be issued after satisfactory completion of all pre-export inspections and tests.

Where it is known that an importing country has no specific phytosanitary requirement or condition for a specific disease, pest, type of damage or defect that is listed in Scottish regulations, the Scottish minimum export tolerances for seed and ware potatoes will be applied.

Potato imports

Scotland's potato production enjoys an excellent plant health reputation and is free of several damaging disease including, potato brown rot, potato ring rot and Dickeya species.

The maintenance of this record is vitally important to the Scottish potato industry. A key measure to prevent new diseases becoming established is to monitor potatoes entering the country and check them for any infection or infestation.

The following notification requirements are in place:

All non-Scottish seed potatoes, including those from other parts of the UK
For ware potatoes from Poland and Romania, due to the high level of ring rot outbreaks. Portugal and Spain to minimise the risk of introducing (Epitrix (flea beetle) species)

Non-Scottish seed potatoes and Polish, Romanian, Portuguese and Spanish ware potatoes

Non-Scottish seed potatoes and Polish, Romanian, Portuguese and Spanish ware potatoes have specific regulations.

If you are planning to bring these in to Scotland you should contact your local area office

Or email: potatoexports@sasa.gov.scot at least 48 hours prior to arrival and provide the following details:

the proposed time, date and means of arrival of the potatoes
the proposed point of entry
the proposed destination
the variety
the quantity of potatoes and
the producers identification number or reference number of lot

SASA will carry out a risk assessment and, if necessary, make arrangements with the local area office for samples of the material to be taken and tested for potato brown rot, potato ring rot and Dickeya before planting.

There is no charge for this service.

Spanish potato imports

Seed and ware potatoes from Spain (excluding the Balearic Islands and Epitrix demarcated zones) must be washed so that there is no more than 0.1% of soil remaining. The aim is to kill or remove any Epitrix which might be present.

Egyptian ware potato imports

Ware potatoes from Egypt may only be imported into Scotland if they comply with specific import conditions. Read more: Potato imports from Egypt

Ware potatoes

Ware growers must notify the Scottish Government of all potato crops planted in Scotland.

SASA issues the notification forms (PP1) and collates and retains the returns. This information allows swift and co-ordinated action in the event of a plant health outbreak. Further information is available on SASA's website.

Plant health