One of Canada's largest potato farmers, who has been arrested on an international warrant, denied Tuesday selling spuds to Algeria that the north African state claims are "dangerous" to humans.
Hendrik Tepper, 44, has been held since his arrest in Lebanon in March while on a trade mission organized by Canada's agriculture department, his lawyer said.
Algeria is seeking his transfer to prosecute him for allegedly selling 3,800 metric tons of potatoes to Algeria in October 2007, which it claims were "dangerous to humans if consumed."
Algeria further claims he forged Canadian documents certifying the quality of the potatoes to sneak them past its customs.
Tepper, through his Canadian lawyer Rodney Gillis, denied the accusations.
In a statement, Gillis said: "Tepper insists he had no part in any forgery of Canadian Food Inspection Agency documents, and that his potatoes were not dangerous to people."
Gillis said Tepper sold table-stock potatoes from Prince Edward Island and Quebec to an importer in Algeria.
Algeria believes the potatoes may have been infected with Bacterial Ring Rot, which is caused by a bacterium, but which Gillis said produces no toxins dangerous to human consumption.
However, he noted, it can significantly reduce crop sizes if planted by infecting potato plants in fields.
Tepper operates Tobique Farms in Drummond, New Brunswick.
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