Beetle could devastate potato crops

The Epitrix flea beetle is at risk of spreading from affected regions in Spain and Portugal and experts predict it could wipe 40 million from the potato market if it enters this country. Experts also believe that if it does reach the UK it would be impossible to eradicate and costly to control, the union said.

The potato industry has been urging growers, processors and packers to notify the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) if they buy products from both these countries.

But the NFU says this does not go far enough and wants the notification system to be set on a statutory basis 'as soon as possible'.

NFU potato forum chairman Allan Stevenson said: "We hope that the entire industry will join forces to call for statutory measures to ensure swift action against this threat. It is vital that we take the lead in Europe on this issue to protect our growers from any possible harm."

The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) has published a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) on Epitrix, sooner than expected. The NFU said this might provoke EU-wide measures to actively manage the pest such as listing the beetle as a quarantine pest.

It stressed, however, that growers should continue with the FERA notification scheme.

Notifications made to FERA must include an expected delivery date, grower name and address, grower registration number, contact number, load number and details on whether potatoes have been washed or brushed.