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This directive contains the general import requirements for plants and plant parts for planting from all countries to prevent the entry and spread of quarantine pests of plants into Canada. Additional requirements specific to certain genera and species may apply. Please refer to pest specific or genera specific policies whenever detailed information is required. The CFIA is moving to prior approval for all off-continent material in the future. Please contact your local office of the CFIA for further information.

This directive was developed to consolidate, clarify and summarize the general plant health import requirements. Previously, these requirements have been found in a number of directives and other documents and it was difficult for importers, CFIA staff and other stakeholders to get a general overview of the requirements. In addition, this directive clarifies a number of requirements previously undocumented and adds a number of new requirements as well.

Note: General conditions apply to all plants including aquatic plants.

This revision adds the fungus Monilia polystroma to Canada's list of regulated pests.

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

2.0 Specific Requirements
2.1 Regulated Pests
2.2 Regulated Commodities
2.3 Commodities not Regulated through this Directive
2.4 Regulated Areas
2.5 General Import Requirements
2.5.1 Plants Associated with Forest Products
2.6 Import Requirements for rooted plants from the Continental US
2.6.1 With Soil and Related Matter
2.6.2 Without soil and related matter or growing media
2.6.3 With Approved Growing Media (Canadian Growing Media Program)
2.7 Import Requirements for Rooted Plants from Outside the Continental US
2.7.1 With Soil or Soil-Related Matter
2.7.2 Without Soil or Growing Medium
2.7.3 With Approved Growing Medium (CGMP)
2.8 Import Requirements for Unrooted Plants and Plant Parts
2.8.1 From the Continental US
2.8.2 From Outside the Continental US
2.9 Plants in vitro
2.9.1 From the Continental US
2.9.2 From outside the Continental US

3.0 Packing Material

4.0 Inspection Requirements

5.0 Non-Compliance

6.0 Appendices
Appendix 1: Additional Information on CITES and NSNR
Appendix 2: Approval Process for the Importation of Plants and Plant Products from New Sources
Appendix 3: Steps in the Approval Process for plants/plant products from new sources

Review

This directive will be reviewed every 5 years unless otherwise needed. The next review date is March 10, 2011. The contact for this directive is 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

Importing rooted and unrooted plants and plant parts for planting from all origins could present a threat to Canada's plant resources, the environment, and economy of Canada. These are important pathways by which numerous plant pests could be introduced and spread within Canada. The primary pathways for plant pests are soil or similar growing media associated with plants, plant material itself and packing material.

In an effort to prevent the introduction and spread of quarantine pests through the importation of plant material, Canada has established numerous regulations and policies. It is the importer's and foreign exporter's responsibility to ensure compliance with these Canadian import requirements. The intent of this directive is to provide an overview of the main plant protection requirements that importers and foreign exporters must comply with prior to importing plant material to Canada. Other directives may be applicable:

Requirements are also available on the CFIA web site under Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).

Plant species that are new to Canada and plant species that are endangered or threatened, must comply with Environment Canada regulations before applying for a Permit to Import from CFIA. Please refer to Appendix 1 for additional information.

Scope

This directive is to be used as a general guide for Canadian importers, foreign exporters, shippers and brokers, CFIA inspectors, Canada Border Services Agency and National Plant Protection Organizations.

References

ISPM No. 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms: FAO, Rome 2004
RSPM No. 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms, 2004

This document supercedes D-02-02 (Original), dated April 19, 2002.

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 I (05/13/2000)

1.2 Fees

The CFIA charges 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 our web site.

2.0 Specific Requirements

2.1 Regulated Pests

The following list names the major soil borne quarantine pests of Canada, for which specific requirements have been developed. This list is not exhaustive for soil borne quarantine pests and is subject to change.

Apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh);
Blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax Curran;
Brown rot, Ralstonia solanacearum race 3, (Pseudomonas solanacearum);
Columbia root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne chitwoodi (Golden et al.);
Dwarf bunt, Tilletia controversa (Kuhn);
European brown garden snail, Helix aspersa Mueller;
Golden nematode, Globodera rostochiensis (Woll.);
Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman;
Onion white rot, Sclerotium cepivorum (Berk);
Pale cyst nematode, Globodera pallida (Stone) Behrens;
Potato rot nematode, Ditylenchus destructor (Thorne);
Potato smut, Thecaphora solani (Barrus);
Potato wart, Synchytrium endobioticum Schlib. (Perc);
Soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines (Ichinoe);
Sudden Oak Death, Phythophthora ramorum. (Werres et al.);

The following list provides names of some of the major nursery and greenhouse quarantine pests of Canada. This list is subject to change and is not inclusive:

Apple proliferation mycoplasma
Apple ermine moth, Yponomeuta malinellus (Zeller);
Asian Long-Horned Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motchulsky);
Balsam woolly adelgid, Adelges piceae (Ratzburg);
Black currant reversion disease;
Boring beetle, Anoplophora spp.;
Brown rot, Monilinia fructigena (Aderhold et Ruhl.) Honey ex Whetzel;
Monilia polystroma (van Leeuven)
Chrysanthemum white rust, Puccinia horiana (P. Henn.);
Dutch elm disease, Ophiostoma (=Ceratocystis) ulmi (Buism.) Nannf.;
Eastern filbert blight, Anisogramma anomala (PK.) Muller;
European larch canker, Lachnellula willkommii (Hartig) Dennis;
Grapevine anthracnose, Elsinoe ampelina (de Bary) Shear;
Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L.;
Oak wilt, Ceratocystis fagacearum (T.W. Bretz) J. Hunt;
Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck);
Pear decline and moria mycoplasma
Pine Shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (Linnaeus)
Plum Pox Virus;
Scleroderris canker, Gremmeniella abietina (Lagerb.) Morelet;
Stem and bulb nematode, Onion bulb nematode, Ditylenchus dipsaci (Filipjev);
Sudden Oak Death, Phythophthora ramorum;

For a more complete list, please refer to the regulated pest list or visit the following Plant Health website: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/listpespare.shtml

2.2 Regulated Commodities

All rooted and unrooted plants and other propagative parts (e.g. cuttings, grafting plant material, specialized stems and root structures) including tissue-cultured material intended for planting.

Packing material associated with rooted and unrooted plants and plant parts.

Note: Commodity or pest-specific requirements may exist and are provided in separate directives. For further information, please contact your local CFIA Office or visit the following CFIA website: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/directe.shtml.

2.3 Commodities not Regulated through this Directive

• Seeds
• Seed potato
• Cut flowers
• Dried plant material as specified in policy directive D-95-09, Importation of Dried Plant Material
• Fresh fruit
• Greenhouse plants from the United States (US) imported under the Greenhouse Certification Program by a designated facility

2.4 Regulated Areas

All countries

2.5 General Import Requirements

Shipments of plants must be free of quarantine pests. They may also be subject to additional requirements depending on their origin and their species. Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 contain additional information about the approval process for the importation of plants and other plant products from new sources. Any additional declarations attesting to freedom from regulated pests that are required will be specified on the Import Permit. The importer must ensure that the consignment is in compliance with all requirements.

All soil and related matter, whether in association with plants, or alone, is prohibited entry into Canada from all countries other than the continental US and additional restrictions and declarations may be required from those regions of the continental US that are regulated. Refer to policy directive D-95-26 for the phytosanitary requirements for soil and related matter from the US.

Before being declared as originating in a country, plants for planting must have been grown at least one year, or one growing cycle, in that country. Plants that have not been grown at least one year, or one growing cycle, in a country, do not originate from that country and must declare the original country as the country of origin.

Plant species that are new to Canada, or that are endangered or threatened, must comply with Environment Canada's requirements before applying for a Permit to Import from CFIA. Please refer to Appendix 1 to find out how to obtain additional information.

2.5.1 Plants Associated with Forest Products

Untreated bark, bark chips, logs, roots, wood, decorative wood and any other non-manufactured forest products are generally prohibited entry into Canada from all countries other than the continental US and additional restrictions and declarations may be required from those regions of the continental US that are regulated. Plants associated with non-manufactured forest products, when permitted, must be free of quarantine pests and free of soil and related matters. The plants and any associated non-manufactured forest products may be subject to additional requirements depending on their species and their origin.

Policy directive D-02-12 provides a list of regulated pests and approved treatment options for the import of non-manufactured forest products from off continent. Specific requirements for the importation of orchids are found in policy directive D-96-09.

2.6 Import Requirements for Rooted Plants from the Continental US

2.6.1 With Soil and Related Matter

A Permit to Import is not required unless specified in the summary of policy directive D-94-14.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.

Shipments of plants rooted in soil or related matter may be required to make additional declarations attesting to freedom from specific pests. Please refer to Section 2.1 for a list of regulated pests. Detailed requirements for importing plants with soil and related matter are described in policy directive D-95-26.

2.6.2 Without soil and related matter or growing media

A Permit to Import is not required unless specified in the summary of policy directive D-94-14.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.

Additional declarations attesting to freedom from other regulated pests may also be required. Please refer to Section 2.1 for a list of regulated pests.

The packing material used must meet specific requirements. Further information about packing material is given in section 3.0 of this document.

2.6.3 With Approved Growing Media (Canadian Growing Media Program)

A Permit to Import is required.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.

The Phytosanitary Certificate must contain the following additional declaration:

"The material was produced in conformance with the Canadian Growing Media Program."

For further information about the Canadian Growing Media Program (CGMP) please refer to policy directive D-96-20.

2.7 Import Requirements for Rooted Plants from Outside the Continental US

2.7.1 With Soil or Soil-Related Matter

Prohibited

2.7.2 Without Soil or Growing Medium

A Permit to Import is required.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.

Shipments of rooted plants must be free of soil and related matter. One of the following declarations must appear on the Phytosanitary Certificate:

"Material was grown in soil where the potato wart disease (Synchytrium endobioticum) has not been recorded and where, based on official soil surveys or other precautionary practices, the potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida) and the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) do not occur".

"Potato wart disease (Synchytrium endobioticum), potato cyst nematode(Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida) and soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) are known not to occur in the country of origin of the plant material".

The packing material used must meet specific requirements. Further information about packing material is given in section 3.0 of this document.

2.7.3 With Approved Growing Medium (CGMP)

A Permit to Import is required.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required. The Phytosanitary Certificate must contain the following additional declaration:

"The material was produced in conformance with the Canadian Growing Media Program."

For further information about the Canadian Growing Media Program (CGMP) please refer to policy directive D-96-20.

2.8 Import Requirements for Unrooted Plants and Plant Parts

2.8.1 From the Continental US:

A Permit to Import is not required unless specified in the summary of policy directive D-94-14.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.

The unrooted plants must be free of soil and related matter. Moreover, the packing material used must meet specific requirements. Further information about packing material is given in section 3.0 of this document.

2.8.2 From Outside the Continental US:

A Permit to Import is required.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.

The unrooted plants must be free of soil and related matter. Moreover, the packing material used must meet specific requirements. Further information about packing material is given in section 3.0 of this document.

2.9 Plants in vitro

Plants rooted in agar or some other transparent or translucent tissue culture medium which are produced, contained, grown and shipped in a sealed, sterile container are exempt from phytosanitary certification declarations regarding soil pests. Phytosanitary certification for viruses and diseases is required for fruit tree [Malus, Pyrus, Prunus, Chaenomeles and Cydonia spp., grapevine (Vitis spp.), and Corylus spp.] material.

Whenever importing plants in vitro to Canada, the following requirements must be met:

• Plantlets must originate from mother plants which are free of any pathogens and viruses regulated by Canada, or from mother plants which come from an area where no pathogens and viruses regulated by Canada occur.
  
• Plantlets must be propagated in vitro in a sterile medium under sterile conditions.
  
• Plantlets must be produced in closed transparent containers.
  
• Plantlets must be shipped in their closed or sealed aseptic transparent containers.

2.9.1 From the Continental US

A Permit to Import is not required unless specified in the summary of policy directive D-94-14.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.

No additional declarations regarding soil pests are required on the phytosanitary certificate.

2.9.2 From outside the Continental US

A Permit to Import is required.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.

No additional declarations regarding soil pests are required on the Phytosanitary Certificate.

3.0 Packing Material

Approved packing materials are as follows:

• buckwheat hulls
• cork (ground)
• paper
• peat moss (processed/treated)
• polyacrylamide (water absorbing polymers)
• rice chaff
• rockwool
• sawdust
• sphagnum moss (dried/treated)
• vermiculite
• wood shavings (excelsior)

Or any other product or material approved on a case-by-case basis.

All of the above materials must be free of soil and related matter. These materials are not acceptable if used previously as packing material for plants or plant products. Packing cases for shipping any regulated plant commodity must be new and free of soil and related matter.

Packing and contents may be damaged if the plant material is not packaged in a manner that would facilitate import audit or inspection at time of arrival. Delays at port-of-entry, damage and subsequent loss to the importer could be avoided during the preparation of this material for export if:

1. Bare-root, woody stem plants are wrapped or packaged in sphagnum moss or other approved moisture retaining packaging of a kind that can be readily removed for inspection.
2. Plant material (bulbs, tubers, etc.) are packaged in transparent plastic bags, membranes or boxes with plastic window openings of a kind that can be readily opened so as to minimize damage.
3. The wax used to prevent drying of plant tissues is transparent.

For further information, please contact your local CFIA Office or visit the CFIA website.

4.0 Inspection Requirements

CFIA inspectors will inspect and ensure that:

1. The Canadian importer holds a valid Permit to Import if required.
   
2. A Phytosanitary Certificate issued under the authority of the NPPO of the exporting country accompanies the shipment and, the appropriate additional declaration and/or treatment information is specified on the certificate if required.
   
3. Inspect for freedom from soil and pests.
   
4. Inspect according to the general instructions in the Plant Protection Import Manual.

5.0 Non-Compliance

Shipments not meeting the import requirements of this directive will be refused entry, returned to origin or destroyed at the importer's expense. The importer is responsible for any and all costs relating to treatment, disposal, removal or re-routing, including costs incurred by CFIA to monitor the action taken. Notification of non-compliance to the exporting country may be required as per D-01-06, Canadian phytosanitary policy for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action.

6.0 Appendices

Appendix 1: Additional Information on CITES and NSNR
Appendix 2: Approval Process for the Importation of Plants and Plant Products from New Sources.
Appendix 3: Steps in the Approval Process for Plants and Plant Products from New Sources.

Appendix 1

Additional Information on CITES and NSNR

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Import and export of certain plant species must comply with requirements under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES sets controls on the international trade and movement of animal and plant species that have been, or may be, threatened due to excessive commercial exploitation. Environment Canada is the lead agency responsible for implementing CITES on behalf of the Canadian federal government. For further information on CITES requirements, inquiries should be made to:

New Substances Notification Regulations (NSNR)

Environment Canada's "New Substances Notification Regulations" (NSNR) concern the notification of substances new to Canada. They are intended to ensure that no new substance is introduced into the Canadian marketplace before an assessment has been carried out determine the risk posed to the environment and human health by the substance. The scope of this Regulation has been extended to include new species, including plants. If a species is not on the Domestic Substances List (DSL) and was not imported between 1984-1986, notification is required. For additional information please contact:

Appendix 2

APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF PLANTS
AND PLANT PRODUCTS FROM NEW SOURCES

The importation of plants and plant products is regulated by the Plant Health Division of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to prevent the introduction and spread of quarantine pests and regulated non-quarantine pests. Quarantine pests are plant pests which do not occur in Canada (or are limited in distribution) and could cause significant economic damage to Canadian crops or forests. Regulated non-quarantine pests are defined as pests that are not quarantine pests but are subject to phytosanitary measures because their presence in plants for planting results in economically unacceptable impacts.

Information on the requirements for importing plants or plant products that are approved for importation may be obtained by contacting a local CFIA office, or the Permit Office (see Appendix 3). Import requirements are also available on the CFIA web site under Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) or from one of the Import Service Centers (IPC).

If information obtained from the CFIA indicates "Prior Approval Required" for a plant or plant product from a particular country, steps must be taken to identify the pest risk associated with the plant / plant product, evaluate potential mitigation measures, and determine if approval can be authorized (see Appendix 3).

A pest risk assessment (PRA) must be conducted by the CFIA to identify the quarantine pests that are associated with the plant / plant product in the country of origin that could be introduced in material shipped to Canada. Once the PRA has been completed, various options for pest mitigation will be considered. In some cases, pest mitigation measures which have been previously established will be acceptable. In other cases, the CFIA will request the National Plant Protection Organization of the exporting country to propose a certification program that will minimize the risk of introduction of the quarantine pests identified in the PRA, to the satisfaction of the CFIA. Some examples of the various types of measures that may be used, singly or in combination, are pest monitoring and control during the growing season, treatments, sampling and inspection. An on-site inspection by the CFIA may be required to evaluate the proposed program. If the certification proposal is approved, a trial importation period (possibly with additional conditions) may be required so the CFIA can assess the effectiveness of the program in operation. Shipments may be subject to inspection on arrival by the CFIA. If regulated pests are discovered in the shipments, or if other problems occur, changes may be required to the program, or importations may be suspended.

Appendix 3

STEPS IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS FROM NEW SOURCES:

1. Before applying for a Permit to Import from CFIA the Canadian importer must ensure that the plant species being imported comply with Environment Canada regulations relating to new, threatened and endangered species. Please refer to Appendix 1 for additional information.
    
2. 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 Telephone: (613) 225-2342 (ext. 4334) Fascimile:(613) 228-6605 Attn: Permit Office

   Information on application, procedures, issuance and use of a Permit to Import may be found in the directive D-97-04. 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 (e.g. propagation, consumption). 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.

3. The CFIA requests specific information from the National Plant Protection Organization of the exporting country regarding the pests associated with the plant / plant product in that country, including:
   - Pest names (species)
   - Distribution and biology of the pest
   - Pest management practices
    
4. The exporting country's National Plant Protection Organization provides technical information to the CFIA.
    
5. The CFIA conducts a PRA and requests any further information required.
    
6. The National Plant Protection Organization in the exporting country proposes a certification program to address the quarantine pests identified in the PRA, or decides 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 the growing season, treatments, sampling and inspection.
    
7. The CFIA reviews the certification program and may request an on-site inspection of growing sites, packing facilities, etc.
    
8. If the proposed program is approved, importation may be subject to a trial importation period to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in operation. During this time, shipments must meet any additional conditions that will apply to the trial period only. Importers will be required to pay a $250 fee annually during the two year period following approval, to contribute towards the cost of the PRA.
    
9. If problems with shipments occur, such as the interception of regulated pests, the import requirements may be modified, the trial period may be extended or importation may be suspended. The trial importation period may also be extended if too few shipments are received to conduct a proper evaluation.

   Note: The order in which the steps are taken may vary, depending on the plant / plant product. If, at any stage, the exporting country does not provide adequate or requested information, the approval process will not continue.