Falsified seed potato certificates of the Dutch NAK seed potato inspection service (Nederlandse Algemene Keuringsdienst) were discovered in circulation in the Netherlands and Belgium last month.

However, the Breeders Trust, an organization of ten seed potato growing companies from Germany, the Netherlands, France and Denmark with members such as Agrico, Meijer and Danespo, soon found the culprits in collaboration with NAK.

“NAK certification fraud will undoubtedly have serious consequences for producers, traders and export of seed potatoes. We are also concerned about the potential negative consequences for Belgian consumers and producers in the market if the authorities do not decide that these newly planted potatoes should be removed as quickly as possible and immediately destroyed, ”said Gert Staring, Director of Breeders Trust.

The fraud case involved a major Dutch seed potato farmer who planted more than 350 hectares of seed potatoes annually. Reportedly, fraud has been committed during the last 3 growing periods. Now the farmer has admitted that he has repeatedly picked Fontane from a pool of seed potatoes. At the same time, the accused party deliberately committed a violation of the contract and thereby seriously affected the trade and export of seed potatoes.

Over the last growing year alone, at least 250 tons of seed potatoes without official NAK certificates were apparently sold privately to Zeeland Trade BV, a Vogelvaard-based trading company. Thanks to the forged certificates used by this trading company, this material ultimately found its customers.

The Breeders Trust encourages all Dutch and Belgian producers of food potatoes, as well as brokers, to verify the authenticity of the certificates they received in bulk over the past 3 years through Zeeland Trade. If it turns out that in recent years, in addition to the Fontane variety, more lots and varieties with a fake certificate have been sold, then it is proposed to inform the Breeders Trust or NAK about this.