A report on the outcome of the potato ring rot Lessons Learned review is published today.

The remit of this review was twofold. First, to assess the procedures and practices that were adopted during the outbreak, and second to review the Government and industry measures that are in place to protect against this disease.

The review was limited to the UK's first outbreak but some of the conclusions have already been helpful in responding to the second ring rot finding, identified on 30 July. Increased monitoring of stocks produced under the Seed Potato Classification Scheme in 2004 is also being carried out, as an interim measure in advance of consideration of the recommendation to increase pre-planting testing of stocks being entered in this scheme in future.

The report, which includes 54 recommendations, has been submitted to the Plant Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw.

The review was co-ordinated by a team of officials from Defra and the NFU and a wide range of individuals and organisations involved with the outbreak, in the UK and overseas, were invited to contribute.

On receiving the report, Ben Bradshaw commented: "I am pleased to receive this report and its recommendations.

"The first ring rot outbreak was a very difficult time for all concerned, particularly the grower on the outbreak farm. I am pleased that he and all others involved have had this opportunity to step back and review how the outbreak was handled and, more generally, to consider whether changes are needed to Government and industry measures to protect against this disease.

"The report is very timely, not least because we are now dealing with a second outbreak of ring rot. I want to ensure that if changes are needed they are introduced as quickly as possible. I have therefore asked the Head of Plant Health, Dr Stephen Hunter, to assess each of the recommendations and to report back to me by the end of October, to allow time to implement any changes necessary in time for the 2005 planting season."

BACKGROUND

Printed copies of the Lessons Learned report (product code PB10073) are available from :

Defra Publications
Admail 6000
London
SW1A 2XX
Tel: 08459 556000

2. The Defra website provides further details about ring rot at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring.htm. This includes a report into the first outbreak at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring/repfinal.htm and progress on dealing with the second outbreak at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring/out04.htm