The Seed Potatoes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

PART 3 Basic seed potatoes

6.  A growing crop report stating that the seed potatoes are capable of being marketed as basic seed potato crops shall not be issued unless the authorised officer is satisfied that the land on which the seed potatoes are growing—

(a) is land which as a result of a soil test carried out, by the Department, prior to the planting of the crop has been found not to be contaminated with Potato Cyst Nematode;

(b) is not demarcated under Schedule 15 to the Plant Health Order; and

(c) is land which has not been used for growing potatoes at any time during the four years immediately preceding the planting of the crop.

7.  A growing crop report stating that the seed potatoes are capable of being marketed as basic seed potatoes shall not be issued unless the authorised officer is satisfied that the immediately succeeding crop produced from the seed potatoes is not likely to contain more than 4% by number of growing plants which show symptoms of virus diseases prevalent in Europe, where those symptoms are attributable to infection in the mother crop.

8.  A growing crop report stating that the seed potatoes are capable of being marketed as basic seed potatoes shall not be issued unless the authorised officer is satisfied that—

(a) the number of growing plants not breeding true to the variety or are of a different variety is not likely to be more than 0.1% and in the immediately succeeding crop produced from the seed potatoes the number is not likely to be more than 0.25%;

(b) the number of growing plants with mosaic symptoms caused by viruses prevalent in Europe and the number of plants with symptoms caused by Leafroll are together not likely to be more than 0.8%, of which symptoms caused by PVA, PVY and Leafroll collectively shall not exceed 0.4%; and

(c) the number of growing plants affected by Blackleg is not likely to be more than 1%.

9.  A growing crop report containing a statement that the conditions for basic seed potato crops have been met shall not be issued unless the authorised officer is satisfied that—

(a) the maximum number of generations of basic potatoes does not exceed four; and

(b) the combined generations of pre-basic potatoes in the field and basic potatoes does not exceed seven.