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Potato Seed Certification

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Western Australia (WA) is free of many of the world's most serious pests and diseases including those of potato.  The virus testing program in WA has practically eliminated virus diseases within the industry and WA seed potatoes are acknowledged as having the lowest virus levels in Australia.

The Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA), through its business unit, AGWEST Plant Laboratories (APL), administers seed potato production schemes in WA and enforces industry agreed production and marketing guidelines.  

AGWEST Plant Laboratories provides a quality inspection service directly to growers. This includes a minimum of two visual crop inspections, inspection of tubers, disease testing, and labelling. APL provides training and advice to producers and seed works and certifies product that meets quality standards outlined in relevant scheme rules.

The Western Australian Certified seed potato scheme is an industry cooperative scheme that incorporates the Australian National Certified Seed Potato (ANCSP) Standards as a minimum standard and produces premium seed potatoes that are considered superior to other international standards.

The Western Australian Registered seed potato scheme is also an industry cooperative scheme that allows other seed growers, unable to meet the ANCSP standards, the opportunity to produce high quality seed potatoes also suitable for export and domestic markets.

Both seed schemes source seed stocks that are produced and tested by accredited laboratories and found to be free of pathogens. Domestic and international buyers, as well as importing authorities, can be confident that seed potatoes from WA are free of exotic disease and pests. They are produced under strict standards and fully traceable to the point of origin through product labelling.

Declarations of quality

All seed potatoes produced under Western Australian seed potato schemes must be accompanied with documentation defining the seed lot details and any disease and defects. The documentation also carries declarations by the producer and grader of the seed lot (Form 402 for Certified seed and Form 424 for Registered seed). This provides assurance to buyers that WA seed potatoes meets the relevant standards and satisfy their individual quality needs.

Useful downloads for seed potato certification

• The Western Australian Certified Seed Potato Scheme Rules 
• Western Australian Registered Seed Potato Scheme Rules
• Application Form for inspection of Potato Crops
• Plant disease diagnosis - Form 105
• Virus analysis request - Form 301
• Product Description Form - Form 424 

For more information regarding Seed Potato Certification contact:

	Dale Spencer     Senior Seed Certification Officer     +61 (8) 9777 0142     0419 950 725     dale.spencer@agric.wa.gov.au

Page Updated: June 2010