EU import rules for Egyptian ware potatoes

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1289 of 2 July 2025 setting out temporary measures in respect of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., other than those intended for planting, originating in Egypt, to prevent the introduction of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al. emend. Safni et al. into the Union territory, amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and repealing Implementing Decision 2011/787/EU

Update

The European Union (EU) has introduced stricter requirements to prevent the introduction and spread of potato brown rot (Ralstonia solanacearum) into EU territory from ware potatoes originating in Egypt.

Impacted Products

Ware potatoes from Egypt

What is changing?

Egypt must now meet stricter conditions to export ware potatoes to the EU. Enhanced testing, traceability, and certification are required, and any pest detection must trigger immediate export bans from the affected sites. These new conditions include the following:

• Potatoes must be grown in production sites that have been subject to surveys carried out by Egypt’s National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO).
• (From 1 December 2028) potatoes must be grown in production sites where, in the year of production and the 3 previous years, survey results show that:
  • no potato plants or vegetative parts, and no other cultivated or wild solanaceous host plants, have been found infected by potato brown rot (R. solanacearum), and no related water sources have been found contaminated by the specified pest, after testing by Egypt’s NPPO or a delegated body
  • after leaving the production site, no potatoes from these sites have tested positive for potato brown rot after testing by Egypt’s NPPO or by an EU Member State.
• Potatoes must be grown in a production site that has an official code number assigned by the NPPO.
• Potato must be grown from plants for planting that are certified in the EU and imported from the EU into Egypt, or that are officially certified by Egypt’s NPPO as being free from Union quarantine pests.
• During sorting, potatoes must be inspected by the NPPO in the packing station, and tubers with symptoms (or suspicion) of potato brown rot must be officially tested by the NPPO and found to be free of the disease.
• Potatoes must be packed in lots, each lot originating from a single production site, and packed in material that is new, or cleaned and disinfected in accordance with methods officially approved by the NPPO.
• The packaging has a clearly visible label fixed with an official seal indicating: “Origin: Egypt”; the production site code; lot number; name and number of the packing station and exporter; and the indication “not for planting”.
• As close as possible to the time of export, a representative sample of 200 plants per lot (a maximum 27.5 tons) must be subject to inspection of cut tubers by the NPPO, and subject to laboratory testing for potato brown rot.

Egypt’s NPPO must provide the European Commission with the following lists for each year of potato production, before the start of the export season and not later than 30 November of that year:

• codes of all approved production sites and their associated pest-free areas
• names and identification numbers of all officially approved exporters of ware potatoes
• names and identification numbers of all officially approved packing stations.

The following statement and information must be included in the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “Additional declaration”:

“In accordance with European Union requirements laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1289”:

• the lot number corresponding to each exported lot
• the code of the production site
• the name and the identification number of the officially approved packing station(s) and exporter(s).

Why?

The EU is tightening its import rules because of repeated detections in recent years of potato brown rot (R. solanacearum) in imports of Egyptian potatoes. An audit in Egypt in January 2024, and increased interceptions, highlighted gaps in existing controls. The new measures aim to reduce the phytosanitary risk to EU agriculture by ensuring potatoes are sourced only from pest-free areas and are subject to more robust testing and traceability.

Timeline

The Regulation enters into force on 23 July 2025 and applies until 30 November 2029.

The requirement for potatoes to have been grown in pest-free production sites during the year of production and the 3 preceding years will apply from 1 December 2028.

Recommended Actions

Egypt must establish a system to implement stricter rules for the export of ware potatoes to the EU.

The NPPO must officially approve and list ware potato production sites, exporters, and packing stations. Testing regimes for potato brown rot must also be established. If the pathogen is detected, the affected production sites’ codes, exporters, and packing stations must be removed from the list, and the changes must be communicated to the EU.

The Egyptian authorities and the ware potato sector must coordinate to ensure effective surveillance, testing, and traceability; the timely submission of approved lists; and swift action in the event of pest detections. Operators should be trained in pest identification, management, and reporting procedures.

For specific changes to the phytosanitary certificate, see “What is changing?”.

Background

Brown rot of potato is a harmful plant pathogen that causes bacterial wilt in potatoes and other solanaceous crops. It is a Union quarantine pest due to its potential to cause significant economic and agricultural damage (see EU Plant Health Law explained). The import of ware potatoes is subject to special requirements (Regulation 2019/2072, Annex VII, 21). Temporary EU measures have been in place since 2011 to control risks linked to ware potato imports from Egypt (Decision 2011/787/EU).

Resources

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