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Plants > Plant Protection Policy Directives > Horticulture 

Review

This directive will be reviewed every five years unless otherwise needed. The next review date for this directive is July 21, 2008. 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 Directive is one in a series of directives on nursery stock from off-continent sources. In the past, most importations of nursery stock entered Canada from new sources without the completion of a formal Pest Risk Assessment (PRA). For many years nursery stock and propagative material were imported from off-continent sources along with a variety of other plant materials. These materials, however, were in relatively low volumes and from a limited number of traditional sources in Europe. In recent decades, Canada has developed a large number of new trading partners around the world and has increased the volume of plant imports from both new and traditional sources. Given the potential for import from new sources and increased volumes and, in an effort to harmonize the nursery stock import approval processes with that for other commodities, the CFIA has moved to a policy of requiring a formal PRA for each source and/or commodity. Importation of all nursery stock from new off-continent sources must therefore undergo a PRA before importation may proceed. In order to facilitate the continued importation of material from traditional sources, specific nursery stock will be temporarily approved from such sources until a country and commodity-specific PRA can be completed. As an interim step, historically approved materials which have not been imported for three years will no longer be automatically approved but a PRA will be required before another import permit may be issued.

Propagative material, including ash nursery stock, may act as a pathway of introduction for not only quarantine pests, but other invasive species as well. The risk of this pathway must be evaluated before importations may proceed. In addition, some plant species may be pests themselves as weeds and, for this reason, must be evaluated for their potentials to become invasive weeds, if introduced to Canada.

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 our website.

1.3 Regulated pests

There are a number of pests associated with Fraxinus species that may be of quarantine significance to Canada. The following list should not be considered inclusive of all species that potentially represent a quarantine pest risk.

Pests presently regulated by Canada include:

Anoplophora glabripennis (Asian Long-Horn Beetle)
Anoplophora spp. (Boring Beetles)
Lymantria dispar (Asian Gypsy Moth, Asian bio-type)
Lymantria dispar (Gypsy Moth)
Lymantria monacha (Nun moth)

Species that potentially represent a quarantine pest risk after a preliminary evaluation:

Phoma sp.
Pseudomonas syringae subsp. savastanoi (Bacterial wilt)

1.4 Regulated Commodities

All propagative material, exlcuding seed, but including nursery stock, potted plants, cuttings, root stock, etc. of the genus Fraxinus.

Seed is regulated under the directive entitled The Import and Domestic Movement Requirements for Seed, Seed Cones and Pollen of Shrub and Tree Species (D-02-01).

NOTE: Non-propagative material such as lumber, firewood, logs with bark of Fraxinus species is regulated under directive D-95-14, D-98-08, D-98-10 and D-01-12.

1.5 Commodities Exempt

Manufactured Fraxinus material

1.6 Regulated Areas

All parts of the world except the continental (US).

Note: Pest specific directives are already in place for the continental (US).

2.0 Import Requirements

The import of Fraxinus from all new sources from any area of the world except the continental (US) into Canada requires a PRA to identify all regulated pests potentially associated with the species, the origin and the efficacy of potential treatments or certification systems. The eligibility and/or conditions for entry into Canada will be determined following the completion of the pest risk assessment. The import from traditional sources is as outlined in section 2.1. If no importations are made from a traditional source for a three year period, that origin will be removed from the list of recognized countries of export until such time as a complete PRA can be completed.

The PRA will consider the plant health risk posed by the commodity as a weed or invasive species plant, as well as by any pests and diseases potentially associated with the commodity including bacteria and phytoplasmas, fungi, viruses, nematodes, insects, mites, molluscs, parasitic plants and weeds. Please see Appendix 1 for further information on this process.

2.1 Traditional off-continent sources

A Permit to Import is required.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.

Material must originate from one of the countries listed in Appendix 2.

All shrub and tree propagative material imported into Canada must be:

• free of quarantine pests; and
• free of signs of living quarantine pests; and
• free and clean of debris; and
• free of soil

Currently, pest risk assessments are being developed for countries listed in Appendix 2 to identify any regulated pests potentially associated with the material of the genus Fraxinus.

Material from all off-continent sources must be free of soil. Rooted plants must be bare-root or potted in an approved growing medium under the Canadian Growing Medium Program, see D-96-20 Canadian Growing Media Program, prior approval process and import requirements for plants rooted in approved media. Additional soil pest declarations may apply. Please see the general plant importation directive for further information.

3.0 Inspection Requirements

All shipments are subject to inspection and sampling on arrival to ensure compliance with these requirements and to determine if pests are present.

CFIA inspectors must:

1. Verify that the source country and species are approved.
2. If plants are potted in a growing medium verify that it is CFIA approved medium.
3. Verify that the shipment is accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the Plant Protection Organization of the country of origin and that the Canadian importer holds a valid Import Permit issued by the Plant Health Division of the CFIA. The Phytosanitary Certificate must state any required origin or species specific additional declarations are included.
4. Inspect the plant material for freedom from soil and pests
5. Release shipments when in compliance with the import requirements. For non-compliance, see Section 4.

4.0 Non-Compliance

Any regulated material found to be in non-compliance with the import requirements or having originated from a source requiring prior approval will be ordered removed from Canada, returned to origin or destroyed. Any costs incurred are the responsibility of the importer.

5.0 Appendices

Appendix 1: Approval Process for the Importation of Plants and Plant Products From New Sources
Appendix 2: CFIA Recognized Countries of Export for Fraxinus (Ash)

APPENDIX 1

APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF PLANTS
AND PLANT PRODUCTS FROM NEW SOURCES

The importation of plants and plant products is regulated by the Plant Health Division of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ((CFIA)) to prevent the introduction and spread of quarantine pests and regulated non-quarantine pests. Quarantine pests are plant pests which do not occur in Canada (or are limited in distribution) and could cause significant economic damage to Canadian crops or forests. Regulated non-quarantine pests are defined as pests that are not quarantine pests but are subject to phytosanitary measures because their presence in plants for planting results in economically unacceptable impacts and they are regulated within the importing country.

Information on the requirements for importing plants or plant products that are approved for importation may be obtained by contacting a local CFIA office, or the Permit Office (see below). Import requirements are also available on the CFIA web site under Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) at the following address: or from one of the Import Service Centres (IPC).

If information obtained from the CFIA indicates "Prior Approval Required" for a plant or plant product from a particular country, steps must be taken to identify the pest risk associated with the plant / plant product, evaluate potential mitigation measures, and determine if approval can be authorized.

A pest risk assessment (PRA) must be conducted by the CFIA to identify the quarantine pests that are associated with the plant / plant product in the country of origin that could be introduced in material shipped to Canada. Once the PRA has been completed, various options for pest mitigation will be considered. In some cases, pest mitigation measures which have been previously established will be acceptable. In other cases, the CFIA will request the National Plant Protection Organization of the exporting country to propose a certification program that will minimize the risk of introduction of the quarantine pests identified in the PRA, to the satisfaction of the CFIA. Some examples of the various types of measures that may be used, singly or in combination, are pest monitoring and control during the growing season, treatments, sampling and inspection. An on-site inspection by the CFIA may be required to evaluate the proposed program. If the certification proposal is approved, a trial importation period (possibly with additional conditions) may be required so the CFIA can assess the effectiveness of the program in operation. Shipments may be subject to inspection on arrival by the CFIA. If regulated pests are discovered in the shipments, or if other problems occur, changes may be required to the program, or importations may be suspended.

STEPS IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS FROM NEW SOURCES:

1. Before applying for a Permit to Import from CFIA the Canadian importer must ensure that the plant species being imported comply with Environment Canada regulations relating to new, threatened and endangered species. Please refer to Appendix 1 for additional information.
   
   
2. The Canadian importer submits an Application for a Permit to Import, requesting a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) and submits payment of $250.00 with the application. The application should be submitted to the following address:
   
   Canadian Food Inspection Agency ((CFIA))
   Plant Health Division
   59 Camelot Drive, Nepean, Ontario
   K1A 0Y9, CANADA
   TELEPHONE: (613) 225-2342 (ext. 4334)
   FACSIMILE: (613) 228-6605
   Attn: Permit Office

   Information on application, procedures, issuance and use of a Permit to Import may be found in the directive D-97-04. The importer includes a brief description of the proposed importation with the application, including the commodity proposed for import, country of origin, end use of product (e.g. propagation, consumption). An importer must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, who is authorized to live in Canada for six months or more, or, in the case of a corporation with a place of business in Canada, is an agent or officer of the corporation and resides in Canada.

3. The CFIA requests specific information from the National Plant Protection Organization of the exporting country regarding the pests associated with the plant / plant product in that country, including:
   - Pest names (species)
   - Distribution and biology of the pest
   - Pest management practices
   
   
4. The exporting country's National Plant Protection Organization provides technical information to the CFIA.
   
   
5. The CFIA conducts a PRA and requests any further information required.
   
   
6. The National Plant Protection Organization in the exporting country proposes a certification program to address the quarantine pests identified in the PRA, or decides to utilize measures previously approved by the CFIA, if available. Some examples of the various types of measures that may be used, singly or in combination, include pest monitoring and control during the growing season, treatments, sampling and inspection.
   
   
7. The CFIA reviews the certification program and may request an on-site inspection of growing sites, packing facilities, etc.
   
   
8. If the proposed program is approved, importation may be subject to a trial importation period to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in operation. During this time, shipments must meet any additional conditions that will apply to the trial period only. Importers will be required to pay a $250 fee annually during the two year period following approval, to contribute towards the cost of the PRA.
   
   
9. If problems with shipments occur, such as the interception of regulated pests, the import requirements may be modified, the trial period may be extended or importation may be suspended. The trial importation period may also be extended if too few shipments are received to conduct a proper evaluation.

   Note: The order in which the steps are taken may vary, depending on the plant / plant product. If, at any stage, the exporting country does not provide adequate or requested information, the approval process will not continue.

APPENDIX 2

CFIA Recognized Countries of Export for Fraxinus (Ash)

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