D-03-11

File

SUBJECT

This directive outlines the phytosanitary requirements for the importation of fresh Pears (Pyrus spp.) from Japan into Canada.

As with other fresh fruit importations from new sources, importation of fresh pears from Japan is subject to a trial importation period. This trial period is required to verify the absence of quarantine pests through product inspection. The trial period will be concluded after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is satisfied that shipments of fresh pears from Japan can routinely meet CFIA requirements.

This directive has been amended to include a field protocol describing sample submission procedures for the molecular identification of mites, and precision related to the additional declaration that must appear on the phytosanitary certificate. This revision also includes a clarification of the rejection criteria for non-compliant shipments.

Table of Contents

Review
Endorsement
Amendment Record
Distribution
Introduction
Scope
References
Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

1.0 General Requirements
1.1 Legislative Authority
1.2 Fees
1.3 Regulated Pests
1.4 Regulated Commodities
1.5 Commodities Exempt
1.6 Regulated Areas

2.0 Import Requirements
2.1 Pre-shipment Conditions
2.2 Permit to Import
2.3 Phytosanitary Certificate

3.0 Inspection Requirements

4.0 Non-Compliance

5.0 Trial Importations

6.0 Other Canadian Import Requirements

7.0 Appendice
Appendix 1: Protocol for Mite Sampling and Sample Submission for Identification Purposes on Fresh Fruits from Japan

Review

This directive will be revised when the trial importation period is concluded or when changes are required. The contact for this directive 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. The 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.

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.

1.3 Regulated Pests

Fungi
Alternaria gaisen, black spot
Monilinia fructigena, brown rot
Monilia polystroma
Venturia nashicola, Asian Pear scab

Insects
Acrobasis pyrivorella, pear fruit moth
Carposina sasakii, peach fruit moth
Grapholita inopinata, Manchurian codling moth
Grapholita molesta, Oriental fruit moth*

Mites
Amphitetranychus viennensis, hawthorn spider mite
Tetranychus truncatus, a red spider mite

* regulated for the province of British Columbia only

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 regulated pests. Shipments may be rejected based on the finding of regulated pests or infestations of other pests.

1.4 Regulated Commodities

Fresh fruit of pear (Pyrus spp.)

1.5 Commodities Exempt

Dried, frozen or processed fruit.

1.6 Regulated Areas

Japan

2.0 Import Requirements

Shipments must be free of regulated and non-regulated pests, soil, sand, leaves, plant debris and meet the following requirements.

2.1 Pre-shipment Conditions

The pears must originate from orchards in the Tottori Prefecture approved for export to Canada by the NPPO of Japan and meet the following pre-shipment requirements:

Pears must be produced, packed and stored according to the requirements of the NPPO program for export of pears to Canada. Under this program, pears must originate from growers designated by the NPPO to export pears from Japan to Canada and who have complied with all the requirements for monitoring and control of the “Regulated Pests” (section 1.3). The pears must be stored and packed by facilities approved by the NPPO for handling pears for export to Canada. Fruit must be sampled and inspected according to specified procedures.

2.2 Permit to Import

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

2.3 Phytosanitary Certificate

A Phytosanitary Certificate with the following additional declaration is required:

“This is, further, to certify that this shipment of [pear variety] is grown in the area where regulated pests have not been detected during recent years surveys and inspection in this season, and grown in the orchards where pests were controlled using a specially designed spray calendar.”

This document must be issued by the NPPO of Japan within 14 days prior to shipment. The original Phytosanitary Certificate must accompany the pears to Canada.

3.0 Inspection Requirements

Note: If mites are found during inspection, refer to the procedures outlined in Appendix 1.

Shipments will be subject to inspection and sampling on arrival to determine if pests are present. During the trial importation period, 100% of the pear 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. If pests are not found in the initial 5% sample, but there is evidence of pest activity, e.g. presence of frass, a further 5% sample may be randomly selected and examined.

CFIA inspectors should:

1. verify that all import conditions relative to documentation and packaging conform to the requirements specified under section 2, Import Requirements of this directive;
   
   
2. Examine shipment for pests (making reference to the appropriate pest fact sheets), 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. Forward Inspector's Report to:
   
   Horticulture Section, Plant Health Division
   59 Camelot Drive
   Ottawa, Ontario K1A OY9
   Telephone: (613) 225-2342 / Fax: (613) 228-6628

4.0 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 be refused entry and returned to origin or disposed of if they do not meet requirements or if they are found to be infested with any regulated 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. Shipments arriving in British Columbia and found infested with Oriental fruit moth may be rerouted to another province of Canada under the condition that such material cannot re-enter British Columbia without treatment against Oriental fruit moth.

The Plant Health Division will advise Japan of any interceptions and of non-compliance with any of the conditions outlined in this directive. The discovery of regulated 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.

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 NPPO of Japan 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 must accompany the shipment to Canada and is required for release.

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

All documents associated with shipments must be presented for release through one of the three Canadian Import Service Centres (ISC) for release. Upon release, the ISC will immediately notify the inland office of the arrival of the shipment.

The trial period will be concluded after the CFIA is satisfied that shipments of pears from Japan can routinely meet CFIA requirements. A minimum of two years (seasons), and 8 shipments, in total, is required. The trial period may be extended to 5 years, if additional time is required by Japan 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.

6.0 Other Canadian Import Requirements

Other Canadian import requirements, which are in addition to those stated above, include:

1. chemical residue standards as established under the Food and Drug Regulations,
   
   
2. licensing and inspection requirements as established under the Licensing and Arbitration Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act,
   
   
3. regulatory inspection as established under the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act, and
   
   
4. packaging and labelling requirements as established under the 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.

7.0 Appendice

Appendix 1: Protocol for Mite Sampling and Sample Submission for Identification Purposes on Fresh Fruits from Japan

Appendix 1

Protocol for Mite Sampling and Sample Submission for
Identification Purposes on Fresh Fruits from Japan

Background

The Urticae mite group includes, among others, Tetranychus truncatus a pest regulated by Canada, and T. urticae, a non-regulated pest. Intercepted mites on fresh fruit from Asian countries are usually overwintering females which are impossible to identify to the species level because the male genitalia is required for proper ID. When relying solely on morphological characteristics, it is therefore impossible to determine whether the mites that are intercepted belong to T. truncatus or T. urticae species. In the past, shipments have been rejected on the basis that Tetranychus sp. individuals were intercepted, which has been questioned by exporting countries.

There was therefore a need for the development of a rapid identification tool which would be effective at any life stages of the pest. By the end of March 2005, CFIA labs indicated that a molecular identification method was available and ready to be used for mite identification purposes. CFIA contacted the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries of Japan indicating that a pilot program will be initiated during this shipping season.

During this pilot phase only mite samples collected from pear shipments from Japan will be submitted to labs for PCR testing.

Methods

Because mite samples collected in pear shipments may be constituted of more than one species, a preliminary morphological identification to the genus level is still required in order to assess the validity of the molecular tool. This preliminary step should also allow to set aside non regulated mites and the release of impacted shipments right away. Mites suspected to belong to the Urticae group will be submitted to PCR testing to identify species.

Mites found on fresh fruits from Japan will first be submitted to taxonomy then to PCR analysis. When available, inspectors should send as much mites as possible for proper ID.

Because DNA deteriorate rapidly, mites should be immersed in 95% ethanol.

Samples should be sent to:

Entomology Laboratory,
Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests,
Room 4125, KW Neatby Bldg.,
960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6

Impacted importers should be notified that 4 to 7 business days are required to complete proper identification of mites.