Australia: Western Australian potato growers continue to support industry regulation despite calls from Premier Colin Barnett to reform the system

The Department of Premier and Cabinet has confirmed comments by Premier Colin Barnett that the "days are up" for potato industry regulation in WA.

The Premier said the regulatory system would be removed by 2017.

The WA potato industry is regulated by the Potato Marketing Corporation (PMC), a statutory authority charged with managing the supply of fresh potatoes in the state.

The PMC dictates the quantities and varieties of fresh potatoes that WA farmers can sell.

But WA Potato Growers Association president Dean Ryan said the 100-or-so farmers he represents will fight to retain regulation.

Mr Ryan said the end of regulation would put many growers out of business.

"A lot of the smaller growers would probably say it’s going to get too hard," he said.

Premier Colin Barnett’s comments are the latest in a string of criticism against industry regulation.

In 2014, the state’s economic regulator recommended the government scrap the regulatory system. Minister for Agriculture and Food Ken Baston told parliament earlier this year that there were "no guarantees" that WA growers would continue to be regulated beyond 2017.

Most recently, the Harper Competition Policy Review identified the WA potato industry as an example of how regulation inhibits competition.

Despite growing criticism, Mr Ryan said the system works.

"We’re definitely going to fight on."

Mr Ryan said the threat of deregulation "has always been in the back of growers’ minds", but he said growers will fight to retain the status quo.

The WA Potato Growers Association has attempted to counter criticism with a new industry website.