Potato exports guide

Information on the conditions and phytosanitary requirements for the export of Scottish potatoes, where known by country.


Lebanon

Seed potatoes (updated 16 July 2019)

Growing crop tolerances

Class tolerances apply, except for:

  • Blackleg: NIL

Tuber tolerances

Minimum tolerances for seed export apply, except for:

  • Soft rot: NIL
  • Gangrene: NIL
  • Pink rot: NIL
  • Skin spot (Polyscytalum pustulans), Black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani): no more than 5% tubers have more than 10% of area covered.
  • Common scab (Streptomyces scabies), Powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea): 1.5 Dutch scale
  • Silver Scurf (helminthoporium solani): absence of any wrinkled tuber

Other requirements

Class: Elite and Super Elite only.

Varieties: only certain varieties can be exported to Lebanon please contact SASA for recent list

Size: sizes 28 to 35mm and sizes 35 to 55mm are acceptable.

Sprouting: 20% of tubers may have sprouts upon arrival which should not exceed 15 mm.

Treatments: consignments should be treated with an agricultural fungicide. The label must include the name of the fungicide used, in addition to species, variety, class, size, net weight, origin, production year, grower numbers and bagging date.

Packaging: new, clean Hessian bags, 25 or 50 kg each. If pallets should be treated and certified.

Pallets should comply with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 15) on wood packaging.

Seeds may be imported in refer containers or vessels stowed on pallets covered with a suitable mesh (net) Each pallet should be from a single farmer. The vessel will be unloaded in layers with each layer needing to pass inspection and testing before the next is unloaded.

Procedures on arrival: the Lebanese authorities will take samples of the seed potatoes and test them in the laboratory for brown rot and ring rot. The exporter bears the expenses. The consignment is not allowed to be moved on before the result of the test.

Points of entry: the ports of Beirut and Tripoli.

Dates of entry: between 1 December and 10 February inclusive. Each importer should inform the Lebanese authorities (Potato seeds inspection committee) at least three days before the arrival date and of any changes to that date. 

Additional declarations to be inserted on the reverse of the phytosanitary certificate for seed potatoes

  • The Basic seed potatoes included in the consignment of which particulars are given below are the produce of crops which were examined in the growing state by inspectors of the Scottish Government and classified as class Elite or Super Elite.
  • This consignment is free from pests and diseases as detailed in the Quarantine pest list of Annex No: (2 ) in Decree number 693/1 (2014 conditions to import potato seeds).
  • This consignment complies with the disease tolerances as described in Annex No: (3 )  in Decree number 693/1 (2014 conditions to import potato seeds).
  • The potato seeds are produced in an area free from Synchytrium endobioticum (sholb) and Ralstonia Solanacerum for at least five years and from Clavibacter michiganensis for at least three years.
  • The tubers have been treated with fungicides and are not suitable for human or animal consumption.

Additional paperwork required

  • Certificate of origin or EUR.1 certificate or certificate from an approved exporter authorized by customs.
  • Certificate showing that producer of tubers specializes in production of potato seeds approved by UK authorities.
  • A register/report of the temperature of the container or vessel during all the shipping period.
  • Certificate attesting to the seed being produced under the control of the NPPO or official nominated authority.
  • List of grower names, grower numbers and regions.
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