The British potato industry is in talks with the European Union about easing the seed potato regulation, but has little hope for success.
Because certain varieties in Great Britain are grown using techniques not permitted in the EU, those (mainly Scottish) seed potatoes are not allowed to be exported to EU countries.
Since the cultivation methods used in the EU are permitted in Great Britain, EU seed potatoes can be exported to England. The British potato industry considers this unfair and wants equal treatment.
The EU has already indicated that it is not considering a permanent change to the seed potato ban. This is based on the fact that the regulations in the UK are not aligned with EU rules. Negotiations about third-country equivalence remain open, but little change is expected until later this year.
In the winter months of last year, the United Kingdom exported 30,000 tons of seed potatoes to the European mainland, of which about 20,000 tons (valued at €15 million) originated from Scotland.
Robert Doig, director of the seed potato growing company Caledonia Potatoes, said new varieties are in development that were intended for export to the EU but can no longer be exported. This poses a major problem for British breeders as significant investments are involved with these new varieties.
"Our registration costs have already doubled, and we cannot afford to also double the costs of trials and development. Until we have certainty that we will be allowed to export to the EU in the future, it is simply not realistic to invest further in varieties for the EU market."