The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is discontinuing its practice of spraying down vehicles boarding the gulf ferries.
It’s been the routine for all traffic boarding in Port aux Basques and Argentia in efforts to prevent the spread of potato wart.
The fungal disease, which is commonly found in Newfoundland soil, poses no risk to humans but can devastate potato crops.
Potato wart often appears with little warning and can spread rapidly (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
It’s a risk to farmers in the Maritimes who could have their crops wiped out by the fungus which presents on spuds as a cauliflower-like gall.
A 2021 outbreak in Prince Edward Island led to a loss of $120 million in exports.
The practice of hosing down vehicles at the ferry terminal is being discontinued due to funding cuts at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
(Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
The Liberal government outlined plans in its budget to cut roughly 40,000 jobs in the public workforce and reduce spending at the CFIA by 15 per cent.
Twenty-one people are employed by the CFIA in Port aux Basques and Argentia.
