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Plants > Plant Protection Policy Directives > Horticulture
File SUBJECT This directive contains the phytosanitary requirements for the importation of Oak (Quercus spp) nursery stock from sources outside the continental United States (US) to prevent the entry and spread of quarantine pests. Please Note: Other pest specific directives may apply and specific entry requirements may be in effect. Please visit the CFIA website, the Automated Import Requirement System (AIRS) or contact your local CFIA office. (A list of CFIA offices in available on our website or in the blue pages of your phone book). Table of Contents Review 1.0 General Requirements 2.0 Import Requirements 5.0 Appendices |
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This directive will be reviewed every five unless otherwise needed. The next review date for this directive is July 21, 2008. The contact for this directive is Joanne Rousson. For further information or clarification, please contact the Horticulture Section, PHD.
Approved by:
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Amendments to this directive will be dated and distributed as outlined in the distribution below.
This Directive is one in a series of directives on nursery stock from off-continent sources. In the past, most importations of nursery stock entered Canada from new sources without the completion of a formal Pest Risk Assessment (PRA). For many years nursery stock and propagative material were imported from off-continent sources along with a variety of other materials. This material, however, was in relatively low volumes, and from a very limited number of traditional sources in Europe. In recent decades, Canada has developed a large number of new trading partners around the world and has increased the volume of plant imports from both new and traditional sources. Given the potential for new sources and increased volumes and, in an effort to harmonize the nursery stock import approval processes with that for other commodities, the CFIA has moved to a policy of requiring a formal PRA for each source and/or commodity. Importation of all nursery stock from off-continent sources, including oaks, must undergo a PRA before importation may proceed. In order to facilitate the continued importation of material from traditional sources, specific nursery stock will be temporarily approved from such sources until such time as a country and commodity specific PRA can be completed. As an interim step, historically approved materials which have not been imported for three years from a particular source will no longer be automatically approved but a PRA will be initiated once a request to import has been made.
Nursery stock, including oaks, may act as a pathway of introduction for not only quarantine pest, but other invasive species as well. The risk of this pathway must be evaluated before importations may proceed. In addition, some plant species are a quarantine or invasive pest themselves as weeds and, for this reason, must be evaluated for weediness.
Oak covered under this directive includes plants potted in growing media and bareroot stock, cuttings or root stock, but not seeds.
With few exceptions, oaks belong to the genus Quercus, of which there are 200 to 500 species depending on the system of taxonomy used. They are distributed in temperate, subtropic and mountains of tropical zones, mostly in the northern hemisphere. About 11 species of Quercus occur in Canada and are distributed primarily in British Columbia and from Manitoba eastward. Oaks are important horticultural trees as well as being a significant component of natural stands and plantings. The acorns are food for livestock and wildlife, and the trees provide shelter and breeding habitat for a variety of birds and mammals.
Oaks are part of the urban forests which have hight replacement value and aid in energy conservation, rain water run-off control, air quality, noise buffering, wildlife habitat, enhancement of property values and aesthetics and psychological well-being of the urban dweller.
Oaks are used for the production and sale of hardwoods for furniture, house construction, pulp and fuelwood. Species of the oak that are used for wood are among the most economically important of the temperate timber trees. Oak wood is famous for its strength, durability and beauty. It is in demand for high-quality furniture and flooring. Oak lumber sawn in eastern Canada is primarily red oak, whereas white oak is used to make barrels for storing liquids. The bark of some species is used for cork.
Wilderness areas, parks and recreational sites are heavily dependent on undisturbed forests. The welfare of watersheds is dependent on forest cover. Forests are an important component of fishery ecosystems and are the main habitat of a wide variety of wildlife species. Forests defoliated by pests such as gypsy moth become susceptible to disease and erosion, and may provide a poor habitat for other forms of plant and animal life. Oaks affect the ability of the forest to improve air quality, reduce pollution, and ameliorate the effects of storms on run-off and soil erosion.
| Scope | This directive is for the use of Canadian importers and shippers of Quercus, exporters of Quercus to Canada and CFIA staff involved in inspection of imported nursery stock. |
| References | References NAPPO Standard RSPM #6 Department of the Secretary of State of Canada. The Canadian Style: A Guide to Writing and Editing. Toronto, 1993. D-02-02, "Plant Protection Import Requirements for rooted, or unrooted plants, plant parts, and tissue cultured plants for propagation. |
Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms
| CFIA | Canadian Food Inspection Agency. |
| Country of origin (of a consignment of plants products ) |
Country where the plants from which the plant products are derived were grown. (FAO, 2002) |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization. |
| IPPC | International Plant Protection Convention |
| NAPPO | North American Plant Protection Organization. |
| PRA | Pest Risk Assessment |
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 our web site.
1.3 Regulated pests
There are a number of pests associated with Quercus spp that may be of quarantine significance to Canada. The following list should not be considered inclusive of all species that potentially represent a quarantine pest risk.
Pests presently regulated by Canada include:
Anoplophora spp. (Boring Beetles)
Ceratocystis fagacearum (oak wilt)
Lymantria dispar (Asian Gypsy Moth, Asian bio-type)
Lymantria dispar (Gypsy Moth)
Lymantria monacha (Nun moth)
Phytophthora ramorum Associated with Sudden Oak Death
Species that potentially represent a quarantine pest risk after a preliminary evaluation:
Xylosandrus germanus (Asian ambrosia beetle)
Ceratocystis spp. (Stain and Wilt Fungi)
Malacosoma neustria (European Tent Caterpillar)
Collybia fusipes (Root Rot)
Helicobasidium mompa (Violet root rot)
Helicobasidium tanakae (Violet root rot)
Microsphaera hypophylla (powdery mildew)
Ophiostoma kubanicum (stain - wilt fungi)
Ophiostoma grandicapara (stain - wilt fungi)
Ophiostoma quercus (stain - wilt fungi)
Ophiostoma roboris (stain - wilt fungi)
Phytophthora quercina (Phytophthora root rot/ oak decline)
Rosellinia quercina (Oak root rot)
Loranthus europaeus (European mistletoe)
1.4 Regulated Commodities
All propagative material, excluding seed, but including nursery stock, potted plants, cuttings, root stock., etc. of the genus Quercus. Seed is regulated under the directive entitled The Import and Domestic Movement Requirements for Seed, Seed Cones and Pollen of Shrub and Tree Species, D-02-01.
1.5 Commodities Exempt
Manufactured Quercus material.
NOTE: Non-propagative material such as wood packaging, lumber, firewood, logs with bark of Quercus species is regulated under directive D-95-14, D-98-08, D-98-10, D-01-12.
1.6 Regulated Areas
All parts of the world except the continental United States
Note: Pest specific directives are already in place for the continental US.
The import of Quercus from all new sources from any area of the world except the continental US into Canada requires a PRA to identify all regulated pests potentially associated with the species, the origin and the efficacy of potential treatments or certification systems. The eligibility and/or conditions for entry into Canada will be determined following the completion of the pest risk assessment.
The import from traditional sources is as outlined in section 2.1. If no importations are made from a traditional source for a three year period, that origin will be removed from the list of recognized countries of export until such time as a complete PRA can be completed.
The PRA will consider the plant health risk posed by the commodity as a weed or invasive species plant, as well as by any pests and diseases potentially associated with the commodity including bacteria and phytophlasmas, fungi, viruses, nematodes, insects, mites, molluscs, parasitic plants and weeds. Please see Appendix 1 for further information on this process.
2.1 Traditional Off-Continent Sources
A Permit to Import is required.
A Phytosanitary Certificate is required.
Material must originate from one of the countries listed in Appendix 2.
All shrub and tree propagative material imported into Canada must be:
Currently, pest risk assessments are being developed for countries listed in Appendix 2 to identify any regulated pests potentially associated with the material of the genus Quercus.
Material from all off-continent sources must be free of soil. Rooted plants must be bare-root or potted in an approved growing medium under the Canadian Growing Medium Program, see D-96-20 Canadian Growing Media Program (CGMP), prior approval process and import requirements for plants rooted in approved media. Additional soil pest declarations may apply. Please see the general plant importation directive for further information.
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 must:
Any regulated material found to be in non-compliance with the import requirements or having originated from a source requiring prior approval will be ordered removed from Canada, returned to origin or destroyed. Any costs incurred are the responsibility of the importer.
Appendix 1: Approval Process for the Importation of Plants and Plant Products From New
Sources
Appendix 2: CFIA Recognized Countries of Export for Quercus
(Oak)
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 and they are regulated within the importing country.
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 below). Import requirements are also available on the CFIA web site under Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) or from one of the Import Service Centres (ISC).
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.
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.
STEPS IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS FROM NEW SOURCES:
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.
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.
CFIA Recognized Countries of Export for Quercus (Oak)
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