APHIS Strengthens Import Safeguards To Protect the United States From Potato Wart

Print

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has updated its Import Federal Order to further protect the United States from potato wart (Synchytrium endobioticum). These updates mainly affect U.S. facilities that import bulk shipments of potatoes from Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, for processing, packaging, and repackaging.

Potato wart is a soil-borne disease that affects cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) and two wild potato species. The fungus can survive in soil for more than 40 years without a host plant, and there are currently no treatments available to control it. Because of its potential to cause severe economic and agricultural harm, APHIS regulates S. endobioticum as a quarantine pest and a Select Agent.

APHIS has determined that managing potato waste generated during processing, packaging, and repackaging of bulk potato shipments from PEI will significantly reduce the risk of introducing potato wart disease to the United States. As a result, the updated Import Federal Order will require any U.S. facility receiving and processing, packaging, or repackaging such bulk shipments to operate under a facility-specific compliance agreement. APHIS is also prohibiting the use of cull potatoes and potato waste as animal feed and requiring disposal of waste at an approved site.

Additionally, APHIS is enhancing existing import requirements following Canada’s announcement of a new infestation in May 2026. These changes include:

  • Improving the labeling requirements to enable full traceability back to both the production site and the packing shed of origin, including for repackaged potatoes not shipped in bulk.
  • Clarifying how to apply the U.S. No. 1 grade standard to the imported potatoes.
  • Strengthening certification requirements for PEI potatoes prior to export.
  • Prohibiting the use of PEI potatoes imported for consumption as seed potatoes.

APHIS recognizes that U.S. facilities and Canadian exporters will need time to comply with the new measures. The import requirements in Import Federal Order DA-2026-28 will take effect on October 5, 2026. Until then, the current Import Federal Order (DA-2022-14) will remain in effect.

For more information, visit Potato Wart and Import Federal Orders.