LAC 7:XV.141. Handling, Storage and Processing of Sweet Potatoes within Those Areas or Properties or Premises of the State Designated Sweetpotato Weevil-Infested

A. Sweet Potatoes Treated with Approved Chemicals. There shall be no date limit on the shipment of sweet potatoes from those areas or properties or premises of the state designated sweetpotato weevil-infested, provided: 1. sweet potatoes to be marketed after April 1 following the year of production must be treated before February 28 with a chemical or chemicals labeled for sweet potato use and approved by the department; and 2. sweet potato packing sheds, processing plants and/ or storage houses, and all containers and equipment used in handling sweet potatoes must be cleaned and treated in a manner prescribed by the department as soon as possible after final disposal of a crop of sweet potatoes. B. Sweet Potatoes Not Treated with Approved Chemicals and/or Heavily Infested with Sweetpotato Weevil. Unprocessed sweet potatoes shall not: 1. be held in processing plants, warehouses or other storage houses on properties or premises supporting active infestations of sweetpotato weevils; 2. be moved in any manner except as provided for in §139.C.3.b; 3. be sold or offered for sale after April 1 following the year of production, except seed sweet potatoes that are apparently free of sweetpotato weevils and have been properly treated as prescribed in this Section. C. This provision shall apply to all sweet potatoes even though previously inspected and certified for sale and movement. D. Sweet potato packing sheds, processing plants and/or storage houses, and all containers and equipment used in handling sweet potatoes must be cleaned and treated in a manner prescribed by the department unless a special permit extending the deadline is issued by the department.