 Potato crops could be seriously hit by the disease |
Restrictions have been imposed on four UK farms after the world's worst potato disease was found on one. Ring rot - described as the potato equivalent of foot-and-mouth - was found on a farm in Bwlch in mid Wales during a routine Defra inspection.
Defra has now banned the movement of potatoes on or off three farms which took deliveries from the farm in Wales.
It is thought the disease, which could seriously affect yields, was brought into the UK on infected Dutch seed.
'Great concern'
Although ring rot poses no risk to human health, annual losses to US potato farmers caused by ring rot have been as high as 50%.
 |  Action is being taken to prevent any spread of the disease from the infected farm and to trace any related potato stocks  |
Farmers are also worried about the effect on the seed market if the UK loses its disease-free status - it has never been found in Britain before.
Malcolm Thomas, director of the National Farmers' Union in Wales, said: "While this outbreak of potato ring rot is of great concern, it must be remembered that this is a one-off outbreak.
"We will be working closely with the plant health authorities and will be encouraging growers to stick to all the guidelines to minimise the risk of spreading the infection."
'Action being taken'
The additional farms now under restriction had all taken delivery of seed potatoes from Middlewood Farm over the last few weeks. Officials are also talking to Spanish authorities about two consignments exported to the Canary Islands.
No details have been given by Defra about the whereabouts of the other UK farms.
A Defra statement said: "Action is being taken to prevent any spread of the disease from the infected farm and to trace any related potato stocks."
Dutch authorities are being contacted to identify other UK locations to which seed of the same variety and origin may have gone.
Buyers of any potatoes from the affected Welsh farm will be traced and the relevant authorities informed, the department said.
The disease favours cool climates and could easily become established in the UK, it added.
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