Should Canada Update Its Rules for Managing Bacterial Ring Rot in Seed Potatoes?

Official title: Proposed updated directive for managing Bacterial Ring Rot (BRR) in seed potatoes

Open Regulations & Permits Agriculture & Food Health & Safety
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency wants to modernize how it manages Bacterial Ring Rot, a disease that can wipe out entire seed potato farms. The new rules would combine two existing directives into one, require new growers to test their crops for three years, and mandate stricter cleaning of shared equipment. If BRR is detected on a farm, all seed potatoes there lose certification.

Why This Matters

If you're a seed potato grower, these rules directly affect your business. New growers face mandatory testing for three years. Anyone who's had an outbreak must follow strict protocols including a two-year fallow period. Even if you're not a farmer, protecting Canada's seed potato supply helps keep potato prices stable.

What Could Change

Two existing directives would merge into one streamlined framework. New growers would have to test each lot for three years through approved labs. Growers recovering from an outbreak would face a mandatory two-year fallow period and CFIA-supervised facility sanitation. Testing would shift from CFIA labs to approved external laboratories.

Key Issues

  • Should new seed potato growers be required to test crops for three years?
  • Are the enhanced biosecurity measures for shared equipment appropriate?
  • Is a two-year fallow period reasonable for farms recovering from BRR outbreaks?
  • Should testing shift from CFIA labs to approved external laboratories?

How to Participate

  1. Read the consultation document to understand the proposed changes to BRR management.
  2. Email your feedback to cfia.potatosection-sectiondespommesdeterre.acia@inspection.gc.ca by February 24, 2026.

Submit Your Input

Draft Email

Key Documents