Despite a potato shortage in the Canary Islands at least this summer due to a poor local crop and a ban on imports from the UK due to an outbreak of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) in Kent County, the Canary Islands potato sector is not inclined to support imports from other parts of the UK due to changes to a law proposed by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture in 1987.
Currently, the law applies import bans on a country-by-country basis, which means that potatoes from all parts of the UK are subject to phytosanitary blockade measures. The law effectively protects fruit and vegetable growing on the islands by imposing import bans on a wide range of fresh produce on the basis of phytosanitary risk.
This provision also constitutes an indirect barrier to imports, making it an effective tool for Canary Island producers to compete in the local market.
Thanks to this phytosanitary barrier, the scarcity of locally grown and exportable vegetables and fruit tomatoes, with the exception of bananas, still persists, thanks to the decision of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture of March 12, 1987.
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture has suggested that the quickest solution to alleviate the potato crisis is to partially amend the aforementioned legislation, distinguish between potatoes for consumption and seed potatoes, and allow a regional ban on phytosanitary pests in the event of an outbreak abroad. This would clearly provide a solution in case of future outbreaks.
Delays in seed potato imports (the Canary Islands import seedlings mainly from the UK) could jeopardize the harvest of early and early crops in 2024. In addition, late varieties should already be planted for 2023-24. It is clear that there is uncertainty in the Canary Islands.