Written question asked by Owen Paterson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 November 2003. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 20 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what additional seed inspection procedures have been put in place following the recent outbreak of ring rot at (a) domestic sites and (b) points of import. - Including figures.

Answer: Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional seed inspection procedures have been put in place following the recent outbreak of ring rot at (a) domestic sites and (b) points of import. [140321] Mr. Bradshaw: The priority now is to determine the extent of the current outbreak and to trace and test other deliveries from the same and any related stocks. In the light of that information we will then review levels of inspection and monitoring of domestic and imported potatoes. This outbreak was detected as a result of our annual survey for the presence of potato ring rot under which 932 tests and 1,151 visual inspections are carried out last year.

Secondary information