Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has identified 21 pest species that pose an invasion risk from U.S. fresh potato imports as it considers a U.S. request to lift existing restrictions.

Around 700 farmers, distribution organizations, and researchers attended a nationwide online briefing on the issue. MAFF said identification of the pest species completes the second stage of its three-stage import approval process. The final stage will examine risk-management measures and import conditions with U.S. counterparts.

Particular concerns were raised over the potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) and pale potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida), both of which parasitize potatoes.

"Securing risk-management measures at a level capable of blocking the entry of pests that could seriously affect Japanese crops is the fundamental precondition for lifting the import ban. In actual negotiations, this is likely to be quite challenging," said Hidehiko Oshima, Director-General of MAFF's Consumer Affairs and Food Safety Bureau.

U.S. officials have also renewed requests for Japan to accelerate the review. The United States first requested in 2020 that Japan permit fresh potato imports for supermarkets and food service.

Japan currently permits imports of frozen and processed potato products from various countries but, under the Plant Protection Act, fresh potato imports remain prohibited in principle due to pest risks. U.S. fresh potatoes have been permitted solely for chip processing since 2006.

MAFF said negotiations would not proceed unless appropriate risk-management measures were established. Options under consideration include precision testing beyond visual inspection.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com