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Plants > Plant Protection Policy Directives > Horticulture 

Review

This directive will be reviewed every two years or sooner if required. The next review date for this directive is November 3, 2006. The contact for this directive is Joanne Rousson. For further information or clarification, please contact the Horticulture Section.

Endorsement

Approved by:

Amendment Record

Amendments to this directive will be dated and distributed as outlined in the distribution below.

Distribution

1. Directive mail list (Regions, PHRA, USDA)
2. Provincial Government, Industry (via Regions)
3. National Industry Organizations (determined by Author)
4. Internet

Introduction

This is an interim policy. CFIA is presently conducting a comprehensive review of its import requirements for pears and apples from all countries. It is anticipated there will be changes in requirements after the review has been completed.

Only apples (Malus spp.) from the Shaanxi and Shandong provinces of China are permitted entry. At this time, apples from other provinces will be subject to pest risk analysis before being permitted to ship to Canada.

If problems with shipments occur, such as the discovery of quarantine pests, the submission of improper documentation, or failure to meet other requirements, importation may be suspended from single orchards, the whole province, or the whole country, depending on circumstances.

Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

1.0 General Requirements

1.1 Legislative Authorities

The Plant Protection Act, s.c. 1990, c.22
The Plant Protection Regulations, SOR/ 95-212
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice, Canada Gazette, Part 1 (05/13/2000)

1.2 Fees

The CFIA is charging fees in accordance with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice. For information regarding fees associated with imported product, please contact the Import Service Centres (ISC) at the following phone numbers: Eastern ISC 1-877-493-0468; Central ISC 1-800-835-4486; Western ISC 1-888-732-6222. Anyone requiring other information regarding fees may contact any local CFIA office or visit us at our website.

2.0 Specific Requirements

2.1 Regulated Commodities

Fresh apple fruit - Malus spp.

2.2 Exempt Commodities

Dried, frozen or processed fruit.

2.3 Regulated Areas

Areas where approved orchards are located, the Shaanxi and Shandong provinces in China.

2.4 Regulated pests

This list is not considered to be all inclusive. Pests intercepted during inspection will be submitted for laboratory identification, and quarantine action will be taken if they are determined to be quarantine pests to Canada.

3.0 Import Requirements

3.1 Pre-shipment conditions:

3.1.1 The apples must originate from orchards in the People's Republic of China approved for export to Canada by the AQSIQ:

• where cultural practices, chemical controls and field inspection (or monitoring) programs are carried out to ensure freedom from quarantine pests;

These orchards must be given a code number by the AQSIQ. A list of these approved grower code numbers must be maintained by the AQSIQ and made available to the CFIA upon request.

3.1.2 The apples must be:

• "bagged" while developing on the tree;
  
  The bags must be sealed around apples without holes and must not be removed more than four weeks prior to harvest. Bagging should occur as soon as possible after flowering, provided fungicide application has occurred during flowering. Field inspection (or monitoring) and/or chemical control for fruit boring moths must be carried out after the bags have been removed. The identity of "bagged" versus "unbagged" apples must be clearly maintained.
  
  OR
   
• post-harvest treated per the attached schedule (Appendix 1) or other treatments deemed acceptable by CFIA;
  
  AND

3.1.3 The apples must be appropriately inspected, packed, stored and transported, ie:

• post-harvest inspected at the 5% level and graded;
  
  AND
  
• subject to any post-harvest measures deemed appropriate to eliminate pests
  
  AND
  
• free of quarantine pests and free of soil, sand, leaves, and plant debris.
  
  
• packed and stored in a facility approved for export to Canada
  
  The facility must be clean and maintained free of pests, soil, plant debris and discarded or infested fruit.
  
  The facility must be cleaned prior to packing if fruit for the domestic or other export markets has been packed prior to the packing of fruit for export to Canada and no other fruit should be in the facility at the time of packing.
   
• The apples must be safeguarded from contamination from orchards or other crops in the vicinity during packing, loading, and transportation.

The pest control program must be effective against all the diseases, insects and mites named in section 2.4, described in a written format and signed by the responsible orchard's management official. This document should be made available upon request from the CFIA for audit purpose.

3.2 Permit to Import

A Permit to Import issued under the Plant Protection Regulations, is required during the trial importation period.

3.3 Phytosanitary Certificate

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required. This document must be issued by either the Shandong or Shaanxi Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of the People's Republic of China within 14 days prior to shipment and bear the official stamp of AQSIQ. The original Phytosanitary Certificate must accompany the apples to Canada. The certificate must clearly state the province of origin in English or French.

An additional declaration is required and the botanical (scientific) name of the produce must be indicated at least at the genus level, i.e. Malus spp.

3.3.1 For apples "bagged" while developing on the tree:

For shipments destined to the province of British Columbia:

"The material was produced under a pest management program and is free of Adoxophyes orana, Carposina sasakii, Conogethes punctiferalis, Cydia inopinata, Grapholita molesta, Leucoptera malifoliella, Tetranychus viennensis, Monilinia fructigena, Monilinia mali and Diaporthe tanakae.".

For shipments destined to provinces other than British Columbia:

"The material was produced under a pest management program and is free of Adoxophyes orana, Carposina sasakii, Conogethes punctiferalis, Cydia inopinata, Leucoptera malifoliella, Tetranychus kanzawai, Tetranychus viennensis, Monilinia fructigena, Monilinia mali and Diaporthe tanakae."

OR

3.3.2 For apples not "bagged", while developing on the tree:

For shipments destined to British Columbia:

"The material was produced under a pest management program for Monilinia fructigena, Monilinia mali and Diaporthe tanakae and has been treated to kill Adoxophyes orana, Carposina sasakii, Conogethes punctiferalis, Cydia inopinata, Grapholita molesta, Leucoptera malifoliella and Tetranychus viennensis."

For shipments destined to provinces other than British Columbia:

"The material was produced under a pest management program for Monilinia fructigena, Monilinia mali and Diaporthe tanakae and has been treated to kill Adoxophyes orana, Carposina sasakii, Conogethes punctiferalis, Cydia inopinata, Leucoptera malifoliella and Tetranychus viennensis."

3.3.3 Treatment must be carried out in accordance with the requirements in Appendix 1. Details of the treatment carried out must appear in the treatment box of the Phytosanitary Certificate. (Private fumigation certificate will NOT be accepted).

Methyl bromide is an ozone-depleting substance and, as such, its use is not encouraged when alternatives such as pest free areas, places of production or production sites or pest management programs are available. Although its use as a quarantine treatment presently exempts it from consumption controls under the Montreal Protocol, it is not known how long this exemption will remain in effect.

The name and code number (or only the code number where there is no name for the orchard) of the approved orchard from which the apples originated, must be stated on the Phytosanitary Certificate.

Phytosanitary Certificates can only be issued for fruit that is grown under a pest control program in approved orchards and packing houses. The program must be monitored by the AQSIQ to ensure freedom from quarantine pests for Canada.

3.4 Packaging Requirements

Each carton (box) of apples shall be:

• Clearly labelled in Chinese and English or French, and must specify the type of apples and the province of origin.
  
  
• Marked with the code number of each approved orchard. This will enable the specific orchard of origin to be identified to facilitate trace back in the event that cartons with pests are found.

3.5 Other Pests, Soil, Leaves and Debris

Shipments must be free of other visible pests, signs and symptoms of pests, soil, sand, leaves, and plant debris.

4.0 Inspection Requirements

Shipments will be subject to inspection and sampling on arrival to determine if pests are present. During the trial importation period, 100% of the apple shipments will be inspected. After successful completion of the trial period, the percentage of shipments inspected will be reduced. When a shipment is inspected, a random sample of 5% of the contents of the shipment will be taken and if pests are found, the shipment will be detained pending the results of pest identification. The size of the random sample may vary depending on the number of shipments. If pests are not found in the initial 5% sample, but there is signs of living pests, e.g. presence of frass, a further 5% sample may be randomly selected and examined. Inspection results to be forwarded to the

Horticulture Section
Plant Health Division
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A OY9
Telephone: (613) 225-2342
Fax: (613) 228-6628

CFIA inspectors should:

1. Verify that all import conditions relative to documentation and packaging conform to the requirements specified under Section 3;
2. Examine shipment for pests (making reference to the appropriate pest fact sheets), signs of living pests, soil, leaves, and plant debris;
3. Inspect according to the general instructions in the Plant Protection Import Inspection Manual for fresh fruit, section 4.02.04;
4. Take specimens if any pests are found, detain the shipment, and submit specimens for identification according to the instructions in the Plant Protection Import Inspection Manual, Section 4.02.04 and 4.11.

5.0 Trial Importations

The trial importation period is required in order to evaluate the ability of the exporting country to meet requirements under varying conditions over a period of time.

During the trial importation period, the National Plant Protection Organization of People’s Republic of China must send a copy of the Phytosanitary Certificate for each shipment to the British Columbia Plant Health Office of the CFIA (see below). The copy must be sent by facsimile at least 3 days prior to the arrival of the shipment in Canada. The original certificate must accompany the shipment to Canada and is required for the shipments release.

"Senior Plant Health Inspector - Plant Health"
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Vancouver - Harbour Operations
Room #270, 858 Beatty Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1C1
Facsimile: (604) 666-1156

Trial shipment period for apples from Shaanxi and Shandong will be 8 shipments over two years (seasons). The trial period may be extended to 5 years, if additional time is required by People’s Republic of China to meet the minimum 8 shipment requirement. The exact length of time of the trial period will depend on the number of shipments received, and the degree of compliance.

Trial shipment must be inspected at the first port of entry in Canada.

Trial importation periods for fresh apples from the province of Shaanxi in China will end October 21, 2006.

Trial importation periods for fresh apples from the province of Shandong in china will end October 21, 2005.

6.0 Non-Compliance

Shipments must meet all requirements when they reach first point of arrival in Canada.

Shipments found infested with pests will be held pending laboratory identification. Shipments will either be refused entry and returned to origin, or disposed of, if they do not meet the requirements or if they are found to be infested with any quarantine pests. If requested by the importer, and determined feasible by the inspector, such shipments may be rerouted to other destinations, or diverted to approved processing facilities, provided such a course of action does not cause unwarranted pest risk.

The Plant Health Division will advise the People’s Republic of China of any interceptions and incidents of non-compliance with any of the conditions outlined in this directive. The discovery of quarantine pests during inspection in Canada or any other non-compliance may result in suspension of the importation program until remedial action is taken at origin.

The importer is responsible for any and all costs relating to inspection, disposal, removal, rerouting or diversion to processing facilities.

Notifications of non-compliance will be issued in accordance with D-01-06: Canadian Phytosanitary Policy for the Notification of Non-compliance and Emergency Action.

7.0 Other Canadian Import Requirements

Other Canadian import requirements, which are in addition to those stated above, are outlined in separate Acts and Regulations. These Acts and Regulations include but are not limited to :

1. Food and Drug Regulations,
2. Licensing and Arbitration Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act,
3. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act, and
4. Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations.

It is the importer's responsibility to know and satisfy these requirements.

Questions and requests for information on any requirements should be directed to local offices of CFIA.

8.0 Appendix

Appendix 1: Treatment required for "unbagged" apple fruit from People's Republic of China

Appendix 1

Treatment required for "unbagged" apple fruit from People's Republic of China (see note below)

1. Cold treatment at or below 1.1 °C for 40 days, followed by fumigation with methyl bromide according to schedule A or B below.

Schedule A:

Schedule B:

NOTE: This treatment required for "unbagged" apple fruit from People's Republic of China is based on a study made by Japan entitled : "Plant Quarantine Treatment of "Fuji" apples for Export to the United States". This is considered as effective and has been accepted by the Canadian PRA team.

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