Mich. Admin. Code R. 285.628.8 - Storage facilities and equipment; packaging facilities; sanitation; isolation of certifiable seed potatoes

Rule 8.

(1) All equipment and storage facilities shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before use.

(2) Storage facilities, including those located at packaging sites in foundation-field year 1 through 5 and certified-field year 1 through field year 6 seed are stored, shall contain only lots of potatoes that have passed field inspection or have been rejected for reasons other than exposure to, or infection by, bacterial ring rot, if the lots are isolated from the certifiable seed potatoes. Storage facilities which are maintained by the propagator and in which nuclear seed is stored shall contain only lots of nuclear seed stock that have passed laboratory or greenhouse inspections. Each foundation and certified seed lot shall be separated by a physical barrier that will prevent the mixing of seed.

(3) Agricultural equipment that is used for noncertified potato production and processing equipment shall not be allowed to enter certified seed potato storages, processing areas, and production fields unless the equipment is power washed and disinfected. Nonagricultural equipment shall not be allowed to enter certified seed production fields unless the equipment is power washed and disinfected. The power washing and disinfection of equipment shall be documented for future reference by the official seed-certifying agency. Materials that are used to disinfect storage and production equipment and nonagricultural equipment shall be of a type labeled for bacterial disease control.

(4) Trucks and other means of conveyance which are not owned or operated by the seed farm operator and which are used to transport certified seed potatoes from the seed farm operation shall not be cleaned on the seed farm premises.

(5) Packaging facilities and equipment used for certified seed potatoes shall be power washed and disinfected and shall be inspected and approved by the certifying agency before the facilities are used or the equipment is operated. Materials that are used to disinfect packaging facilities and equipment shall be of a type labeled for bacterial disease control.

(6) Storage and packaging facilities that are operated by someone other than the seed potato propagator shall maintain grade inspection and bulk shipment certificates, certification documents, and other records as deemed necessary by the certifying agency for each lot of seed that is stored or packaged at that facility. These documents shall be maintained for a period of not less than 4 years after the seed lot has been removed from the facility and shall be accessible to the director or the certifying agency during normal business hours.

Notes

Mich. Admin. Code R. 285.628.8

1979 AC; 1990 AACS; 1994 AACS