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Plants > Plant Protection Policy Directives> Grains and Field Crops  

Review

This directive will be reviewed every three years, unless otherwise needed. The next review date for this directive is May 30, 2006. The contact for this directive is Joanne Rousson. For further information or clarification, please contact the Grains & Field Crop Section.

Endorsement

Approved by:

Amendment Record

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

Distribution

1. Directive mail list (Regions, PHRA, USDA)
2. Provincial Government, Industry (via Areas/Regions)
3. National Industry Organizations (determined by the National Manager, Grains and Field Crops Section)
4. Internet

Introduction

Transfer elevators in eastern Canada (located east of Thunder Bay) handle winter wheat grain. Occasionally, this grain is known to be infected with the dwarf bunt fungus, Tilletia controversa Kühn (TCK). As a result, elevators handling this infected grain can become contaminated with spores of TCK. Any seed or grain moving through a contaminated elevator can pick up this contamination.

The distribution of TCK in Canada is limited to southern Ontario, and the Creston Valley and the northern portion of the Okanagan/Shuswap Valley in British Columbia. TCK is more widely distributed in the United States (U.S.), occurring in several states.

Winter wheat, a host to TCK, harvested from the regulated areas and transported via the eastern Canada grain handling system can contaminate Canadian grain shipments from non-regulated areas. This can jeopardize our grain markets in foreign countries which regulate TCK.

Several countries, including the People's Republic of China, consider TCK to be a quarantine pest. Because foreign countries may inform the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of their plant quarantine import requirements relating to TCK, procedures for certification of cereal grain and seed with respect to dwarf bunt may differ from country to country.

Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

1.0 General Requirements

1.1 Legislative Authority

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. Exporters requiring more information on fees may contact any local CFIA office.

1.3 Regulated pests

Tilletia controversa Kühn (causal pathogen of dwarf bunt). This fungal disease is sometimes referred to as TCK.

1.4 Regulated Commodities

Seed (for propagation) and grain (whole) for consumption or processing of barley (Hordeum spp.), oat (Avena spp.), rye (Secale spp.), triticale (X-Triticosecale) and wheat (Triticum spp.) destined for countries regulating for dwarf bunt.

1.5 Regulated Areas

1.5.1 Infested Areas:

• The portion of the province of Ontario which lies east of Thunder Bay
• The Creston Valley of British Columbia
• The northern portion of the Okanagan/Shuswap Valley in the province of British Columbia
• United States

1.5.2 Countries regulating for TCK:

People's Republic of China, India, Israel, Morocco, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey

2.0 Specific Requirements

2.1 Prohibitions (winter wheat)

Phytosanitary Certificates will not be issued for shipments exported to any country regulating for TCK, for winter wheat originating in the regulated area, as exports from such areas to such countries, are prohibited.

2.2 Regulated seed and grain (sub-section1.4) from non-infested areas moving through Eastern Transfer Elevators to the People's Republic of China

Phytosanitary Certificates will not be issued for seed and grain (sub-section 1.4) from non-infested areas moving through Eastern Transfer Elevators en route to the People's Republic of China.

2.3 Regulated seed and grain (sub-section1.4) from non-infested areas moving through Eastern Transfer Elevators en route to countries regulating for dwarf bunt, except for shipments destined for the People's Republic of China

Phytosanitary Certificates may be issued if the commodity has moved through CFIA- approved elevators which meet the program requirements described in section 3, and the consignment meets the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country. (Also refer to D-99-06, Policy on the issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates)

2.4 Regulated seed and grain (sub-section 1.4) except for winter wheat from infested areas moving through Eastern Transfer Elevators to countries regulating for TCK, except for shipments destined for People's Republic of China and New Zealand

Phytosanitary Certificates may be issued if the regulated commodity has moved through CFIA- approved elevators which meet the program requirements described in section 3, and if the consignment/shipment meets the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country. (Also refer to D-99-06, Policy on the issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates)

2.5 Regulated seed and grain (sub-section 1.4) except for winter wheat from infested areas moving through Eastern Transfer Elevators to New Zealand

Phytosanitary Certificates may be issued for regulated commodities (sub-section 1.4) other than winter wheat if a field inspection was carried out to verify the absence of TCK and the regulated commodity has moved through CFIA- approved elevators which meet the program requirements described in section 3, and the consignment meets the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country. (Also refer to D-99-06, Policy on the issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates)

2.6 Regulated seed and grain (sub-section 1.4) from the infested area moving to the People's Republic of China via any route

Phytosanitary Certificates will not be issued, as exports from the infested area to China are prohibited.

2.7 Regulated seed and grain (sub-section 1.4) from non-infested areas moving through Western Terminal Elevators to countries regulating for TCK.

Phytosanitary Certificates may be issued if phytosanitary requirements of the importing country have been met. (Also refer to D-99-06, Policy on the issuance of phytosanitary certificates)

2.8 Other Requirements

The export of seed or grain of barley, oat, rye, triticale and wheat may also be subject to the Seeds Act and Regulations administered by the CFIA; Canadian Wheat Board Act and Regulations administered by the Canadian Wheat Board; Canada Grain Act and Regulations administered by the Canadian Grain Commission; and the Export-Import Permits Act and Regulations administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Exporters wishing to know more about requirements of these acts and regulations may contact the respective agency, commission, board or department. Information is also available on the CFIA's website.

Information relating to Canada's Plant Protection import, domestic and in-transit movement requirements for seed or grain of barley, oat, rye, triticale and wheat can be found in the current version of CFIA's D-99-01. Other organizations as mentioned above may also have import requirements for the commodities specified in this directive, and therefore, should be consulted by importers prior to importation.

3.0 Program Requirements

3.1 Requirements for transfer elevators situated along the St. Lawrence seaway and Halifax, which have handled winter wheat originating from regulated areas:

An application form (provided in Appendix 1) must be completed and signed by the elevator manager, indicating that he or she is willing and able to comply with the terms and conditions of this directive. The completed form should be submitted to the local office of CFIA, accompanied by a quality management plan (described below). The quality management plan will be reviewed by the CFIA as part of the application approval process.

The elevator management must provide the CFIA with a quality management plan which specifies how the establishment will meet the requirements outlined in this directive.

At a minimum, the quality plan must include full descriptions of each of the following elements:

• The identification of the elevator, and names, titles and responsibilities of all charged with administering the program
• A daily activity report for each bin, tank or other storage unit.
• A treatment program (such as described in Appendix 2) for bins used in the storing of regulated grains.
• Following the receipt of the winter wheat, cleaning of any opened areas of the elevator must be carried out to ensure that wheat residues are eliminated to avoid cross-contamination.
• The following records must be kept for two years and made available for CFIA or the CFIA-approved inspection body upon request: quantity of regulated winter wheat received, date of reception, bin I.D. (for all bins used to store or handle regulated winter wheat), detailed records of treatments applied to the bins.
• A training plan for staff involved in the program
• A monitoring system to verify all procedures for the program
• The quality management plan must be signed and dated by the elevator manager.

The management of the elevator must advise CFIA or the inspection body, at least three days prior to flushing or cleaning of the bins, as required in Appendix 2.

3.2 Requirements for lakers

Lakers must be cleaned to remove all grains and residues after unloading winter wheat originating from infested areas prior to the loading of a regulated commodity ( sub-section 1.4) except for winter wheat.

Lakers must obtain a Ship Inspection Approval for Loading Certificate from the CFIA once cleaning of the holds been completed, and prior to the loading of regulated commodities ( sub-section 1.4) other than winter wheat.

4.0 CFIA and CFIA-approved inspection body responsibilities

4.1 Responsibilities regarding elevators

• Based on review of the quality management plan, a CFIA program officer may approve the applicant for participation in the program and inform the elevator management in writing. (Note: normally, the quality management plan is reviewed and approved only once during initial application review. However, in cases where an elevator wishes to change its quality management plan, it must submit the plan to the CFIA for review and approval).
  
  
• As part of the regular elevator inspection, the CFIA or the CFIA-approved inspection body will verify the adherence to the quality management plan during the inspections carried out during the subsequent three inspections after the approval of the facility. If compliance is maintained, the frequency of this verification will be reduced to once per every three inspections of the facility. After a verification is done by the CFIA or the Inspection body, a report (Appendix 4) will be completed and attached to the elevator inspection report.
  
  
• Regarding the verifications of the flushing or the cleaning of the bins (Appendix 2), the CFIA or the CFIA-approved inspection body will verify the first 5 treatments after the approval of the facility. If compliance is maintained, the frequency of verifications is reduced to 5% of the bins used to store regulated winter wheat. A verification report ( Appendix 5) will be completed by CFIA or the inspection body and will be attached to the elevator inspection report.
  
  
• Monitoring sampling will be conducted as a check that the quality management plan is effective in meeting the program. (Note: inspection staff must ensure that appropriate sanitation procedures are followed in order to avoid cross-contamination, e.g., disinfection of sampling equipment between each batch of samples from different product lots).

4.2 Responsibilities regarding lakers

• CFIA staff will issue and forward the Ship Inspection - Not Approved for Loading Certificate to the chief officer on board of the vessel or to the owner of the laker following the unloading of winter wheat from TCK infested areas
  
  
• CFIA staff will inspect lakers for which Not Approved for Loading Certificates have been issued, and issue approved for loading certificates following satisfactory inspection of the lakers.

  Note: the CFIA requires a minimum of twenty-four hours notice to respond to laker inspection requests.

5.0 Appendices

Appendix 1: Application for participation in the phytosanitary certification program to export seeds and grains, to countries which regulate TCK, from elevators along the St. Lawrence seaway and Halifax
Appendix 2: Treatment of bins and handling equipment used to store or handle winter wheat from TCK regulated areas
Appendix 3: Audit checklist for approval of facilities
Appendix 4: Quality management plan audit
Appendix 5: Bin inspection report

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Treatment of bins and handling equipment used to handle or
store winter wheat from TCK regulated areas

All bins and handling equipment used to handle or store winter wheat originating from TCK- regulated areas in Canada and any state of the U.S. or from another country where TCK is known to exist, must be treated by one of the following CFIA- approved treatment options, prior to use for handling or storage of regulated commodity (sub-section 1.4) other than winter wheat from TCK regulated area.

1. cleaning (scaling the residue, brushing or using a vacuum) the interior of the bin including the valve; or
   
   
2. filling and flushing the bins twice with a product such as: corn, bean, soya bean or pea; the product which has been flushed through cannot be certified for export to countries which regulate TCK.

In addition, any accumulated residues must be cleaned and disposed of by one of the following CFIA-approved methods:

1. Incineration, or
   
   
2. Burial in a CFIA-approved landfill site to a minimum depth of 2 meters, or
   
   
3. Other CFIA-approved disposal method

The flushing, cleaning and disposal will be verified by the CFIA or the CFIA approved inspection body (Appendix 5, bin inspection report)

Appendix 3

Audit Checklist for approval of facilities
To be used by the CFIA

In order for the facility to become or remain approved, the following criteria must be met:

1. Application form and quality management plan submitted to local CFIA office
2. Application form has been completed and signed by the elevator management
3. A quality management plan that meets the requirements as outlined below :
3.1 I.D. of the facility, date and signature of the manager
3.2 Names, titles and responsibilities of all persons involved in the program
3.3 Description of an ongoing status report for bins used for regulated winter wheat
3.4 Description of the treatment program
3.5 Training program for the staff
3.6 Monitoring system to verify the compliance

4. On site verification of facility's adherence to the program:
4.1 The control manager has a copy of the Directive D-03-07.
4.2 The control manager is familiar with the requirements of the program.
4.3 The control manager demonstrates the internal monitoring of the quality plan.
4.4 Persons have been identified that conduct activities to carry out the program.
4.5 The management conducted a training program.
4.6 The facility has adequate documentation to satisfy the requirements.
4.6.1 The facility keeps records of winter wheat received by quantity, in and out dates, number of bins used for storage
4.6.2 The facility keeps records of bin treatments.

Appendix 4

QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN AUDIT

This quality management plan audit will be completed by the CFIA or the CFIA-approved inspection body as part of their regular elevator inspection; it will be attached to the elevator inspection report. The numbered sections represent the titles for each item of information to be reported.

Name of the facility:

Address:

1- Does the control manager have a copy of the Directive D-03-07?

2- Is the control manager familiar with the requirements of the program?

3- Does the control manager demonstrate the internal monitoring of the quality plan?

4- Are there identified persons that conduct activities to carry out the program?

5- Have the management conducted a training program?

6- Does the facility have adequate documentation to satisfy the requirements?
6.1 Does the facility keep records of winter wheat received by quantity, in and out dates, number of bins used for storage?
6.2 Does the facility keep records of bin treatments?

Audit result:

Date of audit:

Inspector's signature:

Appendix 5

BIN INSPECTION REPORT

This report will be completed by the CFIA or the CFIA-approved inspection body during the verification of bin treatments, conducted by elevator management, to treat the bins used to store winter wheat originating from TCK infested areas.

Name of the facility:
Address:
City:

Date of inspection:
Bin I.D. where the flushing has been used:

Bin I.D. where the cleaning has been carried out:

Number of samples taken:

I.D. of samples taken:

Pest identification report #:

Analysis result:

Inspection result:

Remarks:

Inspector signature:

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