Growers wishing to import seed potatoes into the State of Maine must be aware that there are conditions/testing that must be met to obtain an Import Permit from the Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry. There is also a fee for the activity: $35 per permit plus $0.40 per cwt for bags or bulk loads. Bagged or bulk seed must be properly tagged by a legal certifying agency in the United States or Canada. Tags or bulk load slips must indicate that the shipment contains “Certified Seed Potatoes” or a similar designation.
All imported seed potatoes planted or intended to be planted in Maine, including those from other states or Canadian provinces, require an import permit.
Seed potatoes originating in the Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) cannot be planted in Maine due to a quarantine relating to Columbia Root Knot Nematode. Seed potatoes originating from certain portions of New York State and other areas are not permitted due to Golden Nematode. Seed potatoes originating on Prince Edward Island are not permitted for import into Maine due to Potato Wart.
Applications for an import permit can be obtained from the Division of Plant Health, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Seed Certification Office in Presque Isle: (207) 764-2038. No import permit will be granted unless the Department determines that the seed potatoes to be imported meet all applicable standards for Maine certified seed potatoes.
Typical required documents include North American Plant Health Certificate, Post-Harvest Testing Results (PVY and PLRV current crop year), Bacterial Ring Rot Testing Results, and PCN (pale cyst nematode testing) if importing from Canada. PCN will be noted on the Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency also.
Upon approval of the application by the Department, an import permit will be issued. At least seven days before the expected arrival date, the importer must notify the Division of Plant Health’s Seed Certification Presque Isle office or area Certified Seed Specialist. The person to whom seed potatoes are being shipped shall be responsible for obtaining the proper permits.
At the time of notification, the date and time for inspection should be scheduled with the Division of Plant Health’s Seed Certification Presque Isle office or area Certified Seed Specialist. All lots or shipments of imported seed potatoes must be held and not delivered until inspected by a member of the Division of Plant Health’s Certified Seed Inspection Staff. A sample will be taken for further evaluation, and at the program’s discretion, additional samples may be taken for further testing.
Anyone importing seed potatoes into the State of Maine should familiarize themselves with CMR 01-001 Chapter 255: Imported Seed Potatoes. This rule describes the legal requirements for importing seed potatoes into Maine. Please note that any seed potatoes imported into the State of Maine in violation of any part of this regulation shall immediately be sent out of state or destroyed at the option and expense of the owners or their responsible agents and under the direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Should you have any questions about any of these requirements, please do not hesitate to contact the Seed Certification Office, your area Certified Seed Specialist, or the Animal and Plant Health Division Director, Megan Patterson, at 207.592.0911.