Dave Lavway, Government Relations Director of the National Potato Council of Maine, says its possible PEI potatoes have been shipped south of the border in U.S. bags.
Lavway, who is stepping down from his position with the NPC to take over as state director of the Farm Service Agency for Maine, said he knows illegal packaging even goes on between states.
The statement followed what was described as a stunt by the Opposition Leader. He took an alleged bag of California potatoes packed in a Canadian bag to the government.
PEI agricultural officials say the stunt has probably jeopardized negotiations between the U.S. and Canada over opening of the border to PEI potatoes. The border has been closed to the potatoes because the potato wart fungus was found in a field in PEI last fall.
Scientists of the two countries are scheduled to meet in the next few days to try to gain a better understanding of each others' position on the fungus.