| (1) | A store sample shall be taken if— |
| (a) | a virus field sample has not been taken on the unit; |
| (b) | there is doubt with regard to the origin of the seed potatoes; |
| (c) | there is doubt with regard to the virus status of a unit; |
| (d) | if Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus symptoms have been detected during tuber inspection and the field sample was not tested for Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus; or |
| (e) | initial potato micro-propagative material or mini tubers need to be registered in terms of this Scheme. |
| (2) | Unless otherwise determined by the authority, the size of the store sample shall, in the case of— |
| (a) | initial potato micro-propagative material, be— |
| (i) | 1% of the number of plants per variety per clone for testing for the presence of Potato Viruses X, M, A, S, Y, PLRV and TSWV; and |
| (ii) | 1% of the number of plants per variety per clone for testing for the presence of Ralstonia spp., as well as SRE and general microbial contamination; |
with a minimum of 12 plants each;
| (b) | potato micro-propagative material for subsequent multiplication purposes, be— |
| (i) | 1% of the number of plants per variety per clone for testing for the presence of Potato Viruses X, M, A, S, Y and PLRV; and |
| (ii) | 1% of the number of plants per variety per clone for testing for the presence of Ralstonia spp., as well as SRE; |
with a minimum of 12 plants each;
| (c) | imported mini tubers, be— |
| (i) | 1% of the number of mini tubers imported per variety for testing for the presence of Potato Viruses X, M, A, S, Y, PLRV and TSWV; and |
| (ii) | 1% of the number of mini tubers imported per variety for testing for the presence of Ralstonia spp., as well as SRE; |
with a minimum of 5 tubers;
| (d) | G0 seed potatoes, be— |
| (i) | 2 tubers per 100 plants or a portion thereof for virus testing; and |
| (ii) | 4 tubers per 100 plants or a portion thereof for testing for the presence of Ralstonia spp., as well as SRE; and |
| (e) | G1 to Certified Commercial seed potatoes, be 400 tubers per 5 000 x 25 kg containers or a portion thereof for virus testing. |
| (3) | In determining the virus content of seed potatoes, where a grower opts for a store sample to be taken instead of a field sample, and TSWV was observed during a field inspection, the store sample must be tested for TSWV. |
| (4) | A store sample shall be taken from closed containers identified by an attached grower label, save in the event of own planting material, in which case the containers must be adequately marked to the satisfaction of the authority. |
| (5) | Virus store samples may not be stimulated for sprouting, except in the case of G0 seed potatoes. |
| (6) | All store samples shall be taken under the supervision of a certification official, or a person designated by the authority, and be tested to the satisfaction of the authority. |
