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REGULATED AREA ESTABLISHED TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF GOLDEN NEMATODE IN QUEBEC

OTTAWA, October 13, 2006 - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, has enacted a Ministerial Order that establishes a regulated area in Quebec. This Order will control the spread of Golden Nematode (GN) and remove broader trade restrictions on the entire Province of Quebec.

“The creation of this regulated area protects farmers in Quebec and in the rest of Canada from the spread of this destructive pest,” said Minister Strahl. “It is the next step in the milestone agreement we signed with the United States last week that improves trade relations between our countries.”

The regulated area encompasses mainly the Municipality of Saint-Amable and parcels of land in the immediate area. Within this area, the Order allows the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to restrict the movement of a number of items including soil, machinery, nursery stock, plant parts with soil, potatoes, eggplants and tomatoes.

To limit the growth and spread of GN, these items can no longer be moved within or outside of the regulated area without meeting specific requirements; and host crops such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants can no longer be planted within the regulated area unless authorized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The CFIA will continue to work with other federal departments, the Quebec government, industry and affected producers to create a long-term management strategy that allows for agricultural production while continuing to control this infestation of GN.

Programs are in place to provide producers with financial assistance for farm income losses. In addition, the Government of Canada continues to work with industry and the provinces to develop a new, more responsive disaster assistance program separate from income stabilization programming.

The CFIA is continuing its investigation of this pest in Quebec. Preliminary analysis confirms that the pest is widespread within the regulated area. The CFIA will continue to test soil from fields identified through the investigation and take control measures when required.

Golden Nematode is a species of PCN that is considered to be a quarantine pest internationally because it can significantly reduce crop yields of host crops, such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants. There is no human health risk associated with this pest.

For more information please visit the CFIA Web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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For detailed information, see attached backgrounder.

For information:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Montréal: (514) 496-6488
National media relations: (613) 228-6682

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(613) 759-7972
1-866-759-7972

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