Operational Certification Manual for the Export of Lebanese Ware Potatoes

Potato production is considered one of the most important in Lebanon. Potato is mainly produced in the Bekaa valley in the eastern part of the Country and in the northern Akkar plain. A big portion of potato production is consumed locally while the rest is exported to Syria, Jordan, Egypt and the gulf countries. In 2006 Lebanon signed a commercial agreement with the European Union which would allow it to export 50.000 tons of ware potatoes implemented yet for plant quarantine reasons. This ware potatoes export certification operational manual is destined to be used by field and border ware potatoes phytosanitary inspection units and inspectors to fulfill import requirements of trading partners, specifically of the European Union. The steps below describe the phytosanitary measures taken by the Plan Protection and the Export-Import and Quarantine services (TMPPO) of the Ministry of Agriculture in Lebanon to maintain Lebanese ware potatoes production free from quarantine pests of EU concern, specifically Brown Rot (Ralstonia solanacearum) and Ring Rot (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus). The Plant Protection service and the Export-Import and Quarantine Service in cooperation with the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) are undertaking the below described measures to fulfill the import phytosanitary requirements of the European Union for ware potatoes.