D-00-04

Subject

This directive contains the phytosanitary requirements for the importation into Canada of cultivated earthworms such as Lumbricus terrestris.

Earthworms pose a risk of introducing plant pests into Canada due to their potential to be contaminated with soil. Soil is recognized internationally as a major pathway for the introduction of numerous organisms injurious to plants. The introduction of soil-inhabiting pests into Canada could cause an increase in crop production costs, serious crop loss and loss of export markets for Canadian agricultural and forestry commodities. For this reason, earthworms with soil are subject to the requirements under the Plant Protection Act and Regulations.

This directive outlines the entry conditions developed to mitigate the risk of pest (soil) introduction on cultivated worms. The directive specifies the worm species and exporting countries currently approved for export to Canada, and the protocol for obtaining approval to import worm species from a new source country.

Table of Contents

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

1.0 General Requirements
1.1 Legislative Authority
1.2 Fees

2.0 Specific Requirements
2.1 Regulated Commodities
2.2 Regulated Pests
2.3 Regulated Areas

3.0 Import Requirements
3.1 Prior Approval
3.2 Shipments from Origins Other than the Continental United States
3.3 Shipments from the Continental US

4.0 Inspection Procedures

5.0 Non-Compliance

6.0 Other Requirements

7.0 Appendices
Appendix 1: Approved Earthworm Species and Exporting Countries
Appendix 2: Approval process for importing regulated commodities from new sources

Review

This directive will be reviewed every 5 years unless otherwise needed. The next review date for this directive is April 27, 2011. The contact for this directive is Joanne Rousson. For clarification and further information, 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

Scope

Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

CFIA - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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 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 Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice website.

2.0 Specific Requirements

2.1 Regulated Commodities

Cultivated species of earthworms such as Lumbricus terrestris, Eisenia foetida, Dendrobaena spp. and others, normally used for fishing bait or organic waste disposal.

2.2 Regulated Pests

The following quarantine pests could be associated with soil. This list is subject to change and may not be inclusive.

Columbia root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne chitwoodi Golden et al.;
Dwarf Bunt, Tilletia controversa (Kuhn)
Golden nematode, Globodera rostochiensis (Woll);
Pale cyst nematode, Globodera pallida, (Stone) Behrens;
Potato wart, Synchytrium endobioticum (Schlib). Perc;
Onion white rot, Sclerotium cepivorum (Berk);

2.3 Regulated Areas

All countries.

3.0 Import Requirements

3.1 Prior Approval

Appendix 1 lists the worm species which are admissible into Canada if originating from an approved exporting country. Species originating from countries not yet approved for entry into Canada must undergo an approval process involving a pest risk assessment. Appendix 2 outlines the steps involved in the approval process.

3.2 Shipments from Origins Other than the Continental United States (US)

• A Permit to Import under the Plant Protection Regulation is not required.
  
  
• The shipment must be free of soil.
  
  
• The worms must be subjected to a cleansing period for at least 15 days before shipment to Canada by maintaining them in a soil-free and pathogen free substrate (e.g. shredded paper, pasteurized vegetables).
  
  
• Shipment to Canada must take place in clean new containers filled with fresh artificial bedding (i.e. not the same material as used for the cleansing period).
  
  
• The shipment must be accompanied by a certificate issued by the government agency responsible for providing certification for earthworm shipments (eg. Phytosanitary Certificate, Animal Health Certificate or Zoosanitary Certificate). The certificate must state the following declarations:
  
  
  • The shipment contains (name of species)¹ and does not contain contaminant species.
  • The worms have been maintained in soil-free and pathogen-free substrate for at least 15 days prior to shipment. The substrate has been replaced at the time of shipment with an artificial material.

3.3 Shipments from the Continental US

• A Permit to Import under the Plant Protection Regulation is not required.
  
  
• The shipment must be free of soil unless originating from a state not regulated for soil pests. Directive D-95-26 outlines the phytosanitary requirements for soil from the US. For shipments originating from areas in US states where soil is prohibited from entry into Canada, the worms must be subjected to a cleansing period for at least 15 days before shipment to Canada. The cleansing period may be carried out by maintaining the worms in a soil-free and pathogen free substrate (e.g. shredded paper, pasteurized vegetables).
  
  
• Shipment to Canada must take place in clean new containers filled with fresh artificial bedding.

No government issued certificate is required.

4.0 Inspection Procedures

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 should:

1) Verify that the source country and worm species are approved.

2) Verify that a government issued certificate (if required) with the required declarations accompanied the shipment.

3) On an audit basis, take samples of the worms and bedding and submit to the Centre for Plant Quarantine Pests (CPQP), Nematology Laboratory, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Building 201, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2H 8P9, Tel: 613-228-6698.

4) Audited shipments should be placed under a Notice of Quarantine until laboratory results confirm negative test results.

5) Release shipments when in compliance with the import requirements. For non-compliance, see Section 5.

5.0 Non-Compliance

Shipments which do not meet the requirements, or are found to be infested with quarantine pests may be refused entry, returned to origin, or disposed of at the importer's expense. The importer is responsible for any and all costs relating to treatment, disposal or removal, including costs incurred by CFIA to monitor the action taken.

6.0 Other Requirements

Other legislative requirements may apply. Some worm species may be subject to the requirements under Canadian Environment Protection Act. Importers should contact:

Environment Canada
New Substances Division
14^th Floor, PVM
351 St. Joseph Blvd.
Gatineau, Quebec
J8Y 3Z5
Phone: 1-800-567-1999 / (819) 953-7156
Fax: (819) 952-7155

7.0 Appendices

Appendix 1 - Approved Earthworm Species and Exporting Countries
Appendix 2 - The Steps in the Approval Process for Regulated Commodities From New Sources

Appendix 1

Approved Earthworm Species and Exporting Countries

Appendix 2

Approval Process for Importing Regulated Commodities, such as Earthworms from New Sources:

1. 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, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9, CANADA
   TEL: (613) 225-2342 / FAX:(613) 228-6605
   Attn: Permit Office
   
   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 (eg fishing bait, organic waste disposal). 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.
   
   
2. The CFIA may request specific information from the Plant Protection Organization of the exporting country regarding the pests associated with the commodity in that country, including:
   
   
   • Pest names (species)
   • Distribution and biology of the pest
   • Pest management practices
   
   
3. The exporting country's Plant Protection Organization provides technical information to the CFIA.
   
   
4. The CFIA conducts a PRA and requests any further information required.
   
   
5. The Plant Protection Organization in the exporting country may propose a certification program to address the quarantine pests identified in the PRA, or may decide 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 production, the use of soil and pathogen free substrate, etc.
   
   
6. The CFIA reviews the certification program and advises the Plant Protection Organization of the exporting country if importation into Canada is approved, and what the Canadian import conditions are. The importer is then advised if importations may commence.

1. The certifying agency must identify the species in the shipment.