Plants > Plant Protection Policy Directives > Horticulture 

Subject

This directive states that alder (Alnus spp.) is prohibited entry to Canada from affected parts of Europe to prevent the importation of the newly reported Phytophthora species affecting alders.

The list of infested and prohibited sources of alder will be amended to an appendix to facilitate rapid changes to the directive as new sources of the disease are identified.

Table of Contents

Review
Endorsement
Amendment Record
Distribution
Introduction
Scope

1.0 General Requirements
1.1 Legislative Authority
1.2 Fees
1.3 Regulated Pests
1.4 Regulated Commodities
1.5 Commodities Exempt
1.6 Regulated Areas

2.0 Specific Requirements
2.1 Prohibitions
2.2 Inspection Requirements

3.0 Appendix
Appendix 1: Areas Regulated for Phytophthora Pathogenic to Alder (Alnus spp.)

Review

This directive will be reviewed every 2 years unless otherwise needed. The next review date for this directive is July 27, 2008. 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

An aggressive new fungal disease caused by a hybrid Phytophthora species is killing hundreds of thousands of alder trees along Europe's rivers. The alder disease, first found in Britain in 1993, destroys the bark around the base of the trees, eventually killing them. So far the disease has killed around 10 percent of the alders in southern England and Wales, and is steadily killing up to 2 percent of the population each year. The blight has also been serious in parts of Sweden, France and Holland, and is spreading in Germany and Austria.

Research in Europe suggests the fungus disease is caused by two introduced Phytophthora species (P. cambivora and another fungus close but not identical to P. fragariae) that have hybridized to form a "new", aggressive disease-causing organism. The two species of fungi were possibly introduced on imported plants.

Phytophthora root disease of alder is caused by a new species of fungus or a hybrid of two or more existing species of fungus that poses a serious threat to common alders causing abnormally small and discoloured leaves, dead roots, collar knot, other symptoms and plant death. This fungus is soil-borne and may be spread by water and soil as well as by movement of infected material by humans. Phytophthora species do not occur on alders in North America.

The new Phytophthora species is a high risk pathogen that represents a high damage potential to the forest economy in British Columbia (BC) and to forest ecosystems across Canada. Red alder (Alnus rubra) is economically important to the province of BC and to the Pacific Northwest of the United States (US). Red alder wood is used in a specialty industry in the manufacture of fine furniture, specialized veneers, plywood, pallets and paper. It is the third most important hardwood export in the US after red and white oak, and in BC the production of a high quality red alder log is approximately equal in value to that of a Douglas fir log.

Alnus spp. are widespread in Canada and are of considerable ecological importance as early colonizers of damaged and wet sites and as nitrogen-fixers. Alders contribute to soil quality and erosion control and provide wildlife food and habitat.

In light of these facts, importation of Alnus spp. is prohibited from infested European countries in order to prevent the introduction and spread of Phytophthora root disease in Canada/North America.

Scope

This directive is for the use of wood importers, nursery growers and other importers of plant material and for CFIA inspectors. This is to outline the prohibition of Alnus material from infested countries and to provide staff with direction on inspection procedures.

This directive supercedes D-00-08 dated January 22, 2001.

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.

1.3 Regulated Pests

Phytophthora species, including new hybrids, that are pathogenic to alder.

1.4 Regulated Commodities

Alder (Alnus spp.), rooted plant material including nursery stock; wood with bark.

Note: Wood without bark is subject to the requirements under D-02-12.

1.5 Commodities Exempt

Manufactured alder material, seed, non-rooted cuttings

1.6 Regulated Areas

Please see Appendix I

2.0 Specific Requirements

2.1 Prohibitions

The importation of Alnus spp. rooted plant material and wood with bark from regulated areas.

Note: Rooted plant material originating from non-regulated countries require approval prior to importation. A pest risk assessment may be required to evaluate the risk posed by other pests.

2.2 Inspection Requirements

All importations of regulated alder (Alnus spp.) material will be immediately refused entry and destroyed or returned to origin at the importer's expense. Alder seed and non-rooted cuttings must be free from soil, plant debris and quarantine pests. Please see note of Section 2.1.

3.0 Appendix

Appendix 1: Areas Regulated for Phytophthora Pathogenic to Alder (Alnus spp.)

Appendix 1

Areas Regulated for Phytophthora Pathogenic to Alder (Alnus spp.).

Note: An importer/exporter can obtain the current list of regulated areas for Phytophthora Pathogenic to Alder from their local CFIA Office or through D-00-08 which can be found on the CFIA website.