UK potato supplies undergo mandatory inspection in the Canary Islands ports

The need to thoroughly inspect all consignments of potatoes from the United Kingdom upon arrival in the Canary Islands, following the recent resumption of imports three weeks ago has become a considerable challenge. This situation is aggravated due to the lack of personnel at the Border Inspection Points (PIF), which are mandatory points through which cargo containers must pass. This bottleneck is causing a serious collapse in the ports of Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The measures adopted by the Canary Islands to British potatoes are temporary and will be in force "until the United Kingdom declares itself free of the expansion of the pest detected in the county of Kent", as recently commented the Minister of Agriculture, Narvay Quintero.

In addition to inspection protocols at Canary Island ports upon arrival, British producers must also comply with a number of additional requirements. This includes the need to include detailed information on the label of each batch of potatoes, not only about the characteristics of the product, but also about traceability that allows the identification of the producer and the production area down to the plot level.

Likewise, potatoes intended for planting must be packed in new bags, with a maximum capacity of 25 kilograms, and must carry seals and identification labels, all carried out in facilities specially enabled for this purpose. As for potatoes intended for consumption, they must be transported in containers with a maximum capacity of 1.5 tons.