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WORK CONTINUES TO MINIMIZE THE TEMPORARY ACTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES ON CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

• Update - 2006-10-06 - Canada-U.S. Potato Cyst Nematode Import Restrictions Lifted

OTTAWA, August 19, 2006 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has worked to minimize the temporary actions announced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on certain agricultural products entering the United States (U.S.) from the Province of Quebec. The USDA temporary actions were in response to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) confirmation of Golden Nematode on a farm 20 kilometres east of Montréal, Quebec.

“We have had extensive discussions with the U.S. to reduce their temporary trade requirements and have made substantial progress to limit the number of products and areas affected in Canada,” said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Effective immediately, the temporary U.S. requirements will now prohibit entry of the following articles from the Province of Quebec: potatoes for seed, consumption, or processing; soil and related articles; and grass sod.

Effective on Wednesday, August 23, 2006, the following articles may enter the U.S. from the Province of Quebec if they are free of soil: plants with roots; plant crowns and roots for propagation; true bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers of ornamental plants; root crops (other than potatoes); small grains and soybeans; hay, straw, plant litter, etc.; unshucked ear corn; used containers, farm tools, and other farm equipment.

Proof of the province of origin for the products affected in Quebec has now been limited to the U.S. ports of entry along the Canadian border east of, and including, the Detroit-Sarnia corridor. There will be no process changes required to the ports of entry west of this corridor.

The U.S. has also agreed that the existing export certification processes for these products is sufficient. There will be no modifications required to any export forms as long as the province of origin is clearly indicated.

The CFIA has informed the provinces and industry of the new requirements and will be working with them to facilitate implementation of the requirements as quickly as possible.

The ongoing investigation in Quebec is a priority for the CFIA and Canadian officials will continue to work with the U.S. to minimize trade disruptions as quickly as possible. USDA officials will be arriving in the coming days to observe the CFIA investigation.

For more details on the temporary U.S. requirements, please see the Industry Bulletin that has been distributed to Canadian provinces and industries and posted to the CFIA Web site (www.inspection.gc.ca).

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Amended August 21, 2006

For information:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Montreal: 514-496-6488
National media relations: 613-228-6682

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