Plants> Plant Protection Policy Directives > Forestry 

Subject

This directive prescribes measures to prevent the entry and establishment of Asian gypsy moth (AGM) in Canada.

The policy was updated to clarify information regarding high risk vessels and dates relating to the infestation periods in foreign ports in the body of the document as well as Appendix 3. In addition, other editorial and structural corrections have been made.

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 Pests
2.2 Regulated Commodity

3.0 Requirements
3.1 Ships Entering Canadian Ports During the High Risk Period - March 1 to October 15
3.1.1 The Asian strain of the gypsy moth is detected during inspection by Canadian inspectors
3.1.2 The ship has been inspected and rejected from entry by the United States
3.2 Ships Entering Canadian Ports During the Low Risk Period - October 16 to February 28 (or 29)

4.0 Inspection Procedures

5.0 Appendices
Appendix 1: Summary of Entry Requirements
Appendix 2: Russian Far East Ports within the High Risk Area
Appendix 3: Asian Gypsy Moth Vessel List

Review

This directive will be reviewed every 5 years. The next review date for this directive is May 17, 2011. The contact for this directive Joanne Rousson. For further information or clarification, please contact the Forestry 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

Port areas in the infested countries are subject to high levels of gypsy moth establishment. Distribution of life-stages of the gypsy moth onto ships has been found to result in the transportation of the pest to North America. A number of pest eradication programs have been necessary to the control pest once introduced through this pathway. To reduce future introductions, a ship inspection policy has been in place since 1992.

Scope

Any individual or company whose ship has visited high-risk Russian Far East ports during the high risk period must meet the requirements of this directive in order to prevent the entry of Asian Gyspy Moth into Canada.

This directive supersedes D-95-03 (6th Revision) dated March 17, 1999 and any other policy documents on this subject.

Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

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 Pests

The Asian strain of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L.

2.2 Regulated Commodity

This policy applies to any ships that have docked in high-risk Russian Far East ports (south of 60 degrees north latitude) between July 1 and September 30 or between the dates prescribed in Appendix 3, which ever is greater. These ships are considered to be a high risk for the transportation of egg masses of the Asian gypsy moth. Ports of concern are listed in Appendix 2 and include: Nakhodka, Vostochny, and Vladivostock. The most current list of vessels is listed in Appendix 3.

This policy will be updated as new high-risk ports are identified.

All ships are subject to audit inspection at any time of year to verify freedom from Asian gypsy moth.

3.0 Requirements

A summary of requirements is provided in Appendix 1.

Ships visiting high risk Russian Far East ports between July 1 and September 30 should be thoroughly cleaned of all life stages of the Asian strain of gypsy moth and request inspection and certification by Russian Plant Quarantine officials, in order to prepare for entry into Canadian ports in the following spring.

3.1 Ships Entering Canadian Ports During the High Risk Period - March 1 to October 15

Prior to entry into Canadian ports, all regulated ships will be inspected at designated Canadian off-shore anchorages by Canadian inspectors. If there is no reason to believe that the ship presents a risk of introducing the Asian strain of the gypsy moth, the ship will be permitted entry to Canadian ports.

Regulated ships will not be permitted entry into Canadian waters for the following reasons:

3.1.1 The Asian strain of the gypsy moth is detected during inspection by Canadian inspectors.

3.1.2 The ship has been inspected and rejected from entry by the United States.

At the inspector's discretion, a rejected ship may be permitted to conduct a thorough cleaning of all life stages of the gypsy moth in international waters or at least 10 km away from North American shores. Once cleaning is complete the ship may be allowed to return to Canadian waters for re-inspection. When an inspector is satisfied that there is no risk of introducing the Asian strain of the gypsy moth, the ship will be allowed to enter a Canadian port. Should life stages of the gypsy moth be found during re-inspection, the vessel will not be permitted entry to Canadian waters until the high risk period has ended.

Canadian agents representing inbound high risk ships during the high risk season are responsible for notifying their local CFIA office (Vancouver: 604-666-3837, Prince Rupert: 604-627-3033, Halifax: 902-426-3876) of the ship's request to enter Canada prior to the ship entering Canadian waters. The agent is responsible for ensuring the vessel is presented for inspection at the designated inspection site.

3.2 Ships Entering Canadian Ports During the Low Risk Period - October 16 to February 28 (or 29)

All high-risk ships will be permitted to enter Canadian harbours during this period without mandatory inspection. During this period, it is unlikely that viable egg masses, if present, would hatch and survive. However, audit inspections may be conducted without causing delay to the ship's schedule. If a life stage of Asian gypsy moth is found, the Captain or agent will be notified and the ship will be required to leave Canadian waters by March 1.

4.0 Inspection Procedures

All ships arriving in Canada must be prepared to submit to the CFIA a summary of log entries that document the dates and ports of call during the high risk period of this and the last 2 years. The summary must be provided to the ships agent prior to entry to Canada. CFIA will deny entry to ships that fail to present the summary of log entries.

Regulated ships are also strongly encouraged to obtain a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the plant protection authorities of the infested country (Russia). These certificates provide evidence that the ship has been inspected by foreign authorities prior to entry to Canada. The ship will still be inspected by Canadian inspectors, however, the information provided on these certificates may hasten Canadian inspection time.

CFIA inspection staff will thoroughly inspect all areas of the ship at a designated anchorage. Once an inspection is complete, CFIA inspection staff will notify Canadian shipping authorities of the results of the inspection and the status of the ship in being permitted entry to Canada. If requested by the ship's Captain or agent, CFIA inspectors will provide in writing confirmation of inspection results.

An inspection can be carried out at any time of the year, depending on weather conditions and resource availability. A ship that has been found free of life stages of the gypsy moth, which has not subsequently returned to a high risk port during the high risk period may enter a Canadian port provided the vessel can present the original confirmation of inspection. These ships however may be subject to an audit inspection.

5.0 Appendices

Appendix 1: Summary of Entry Requirements
Appendix 2: Russian Far East Ports within the High Risk Area
Appendix 3: Asian Gypsy Moth Vessel List

Appendix 1

Summary of Entry Requirements

Appendix 2

Russian Far East Ports Within the High Risk Area

Russian Far East ports, which are considered of high risk for Asian gypsy moth include but are not limited to the ports listed below.

Appendix 3

Asian Gypsy Moth Ship List for Ships Departing Far East Russian Ports

This list is published annually and subject to revision based on available information. Due to gaps in the databases used to identify ship movements, not all ships may be listed.