Plants> Plant Protection Policy Directives > Forestry
File SUBJECTThis directive contains the phytosanitary requirements for the importation and the movement within Canada of nursery stock, trees, logs, wood with bark attached, wood chips or bark chips and firewood from trees in the genus Fraxinus (commonly known as ash) that may contain living stages of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis. Table of ContentsReview 1.0 General Requirements 2.0 Specific Requirements 3.0 Inspection Requirements 5.0 Appendices ReviewThis directive will be reviewed every 2 years unless otherwise needed. The next review period is February 27, 2008. The contact for this directive is Joanne Rousson. For further information or clarification, please contact the Forestry Section. EndorsementApproved by:
Amendment RecordAmendments to this directive will be dated and distributed as outlined in the distribution below. Distribution
IntroductionThe emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, is an introduced wood boring beetle native to China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia and Taiwan. This pest was found for the first time in North America in the summer of 2002 in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. In North America, the emerald ash borer has been found to attack and kill various species of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) and it is likely that all North American species of ash, as well as exotic species, are susceptible to emerald ash borer. The mountain ash (Sorbus spp.) is not related to true ashes and is not attacked by the emerald ash borer. The larval stage of the emerald ash borer damages and kills ash trees. During their feeding, larvae create S-shaped tunnels in the inner bark which eventually stop the flow of water and nutrients inside the tree's vascular system, resulting in the eventual death of the host tree. Trees typically die in 2 to 3 years, but heavily infested trees can die after one year. Ash trees (genus Fraxinus) are very important species in both Canada and the eastern US and are major components of both natural and urban forests. They are commonly found on city streets, wood lots, windbreaks and forests from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland and Labrador. Furthermore, ash trees are of economic importance to Canada. Hardwood forest production is valued at $1.4 billion annually in Canada and ash trees are an important component of this. Ash forest products are used for a variety of purposes, including flooring, furniture, tools, sports equipment (e.g., hockey sticks, baseball bats), and native handicrafts such as baskets. Damage to ash wood, such as that caused by the larval stage of emerald ash borer, affects its value and the potential for its use in manufacturing. Ash trees are also a major component of nursery stock sales valued at about $500 million annually, and it is believed that nursery stock is also at risk from the emerald ash borer and may also serve to spread this pest to currently uninfested areas. All species of ash are extremely important from an environmental perspective. They are home to numerous animals and birds and are integral to the health of soils and watersheds. The loss of ash trees from urban and parkland forests would reduce or eliminate food and shelter sources for wildlife, decrease biodiversity and seriously disturb the overall ecology of Canadian forests. In addition, blue ash and pumpkin ash, which are already considered rare or vulnerable species, are native to that part of Ontario currently infested with the emerald ash borer and would be amongst the species most affected by this pest. ScopeThis directive is for the use of importers, CFIA inspectors, Canada Border Services Agency and international plant protection organizations. ReferencesRequirements for the Establishment of Pest Free Areas. 1996. ISPM. No. 4, FAO, Rome. This directive is in addition to the import requirements pertaining to non-propagative material such as logs, wood with bark attached, wood chips or bark chips, firewood and nursery stock in the following Canadian plant protection policies: D-98-09, D-01-12, D-02-02 and D-02-12. Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms
1.0 General Requirements1.1 Legislative AuthorityThe Plant Protection Act, s.c. 1990, c.22 1.2 FeesThe 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 us at our website. 1.3 Regulated pestsAll life stages of Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire); known as the emerald ash borer are regulated by the CFIA. 1.4 Regulated CommoditiesLogs, trees, wood with bark attached, wood chips or bark chips, nursery stock and firewood in the genus Fraxinus (commonly known as ash) are regulated by the CFIA. 1.5 Exempt CommoditiesAll processed wood materials that are completely free of bark, free of pests and free of signs of living pests that have been subjected to conditions that have altered the commodity in a manner to significantly reduce the ability of the wood items to provide a habitat for pests. Heat treatment, air drying, chemical treatment, finishing and reshaping or other manufacturing processes can render the wood free of pests. The following commodities have undergone extensive handling and processing and are exempt from further treatment requirements: aspenite, plywood, veneer, fibre board, particle board, oriented strand board, saw dust, wood mulch, wafer board, children's toys, wood cabinets and finished wood flooring. Exempted commodities are subject to inspection and must be declared at the time of entry into Canada. Other exempted commodities include: Fraxinus seeds and foliage are exempt from this policy. Other policy directives may have specific requirements. All wood products from which the bark has been removed including lumber and sawn lumber are exempt from this policy. The requirements for the import of lumber and sawn lumber are specified in policy D-02-12. Wood chips or bark chips for commercial processing (examples: wafer board manufacturing, pulp and paper mill that are approved by the CFIA). 1.6 Regulated AreasRegulated areas are described in Appendix 1. 2.0 Specific Requirements2.1 ProhibitionsThe import of untreated regulated commodities with bark attached that originate in areas where the emerald ash borer is known to exist is prohibited. 2.2 Import RequirementsNote: The import requirements for firewood, fuel wood pellets and processed fuel logs are contained in D-01-12. Note: Imports of ash firewood are prohibited from countries regulated for emerald ash borer. 2.2.1 From US counties regulated for emerald ash borer within a regulated state2.2.1.1 Ash logs and wood with bark attached A Permit to Import is required. A valid Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed by the USDA stating the treatment details is required. One of the following treatments must have taken place and must be described in the appropriate section of the Phytosanitary Certificate: Debarked: Logs and wood with bark attached must be free of bark including vascular cambium (or a depth of 2.5 cm), free of pests, free of signs of living pests and free of grub holes or galleries; OR Heat Treated: Logs and wood with bark attached must be heat treated to 56 ºC for 30 minutes. The heat treatment process must be verified by the USDA. OR Other Options: The CFIA may approve the import of ash logs and wood with bark attached on the evaluation of proposed treatment measures or certification systems if they can be proven to mitigate the risk of introducing any life stage of emerald ash borer. 2.2.1.2 Ash wood chips or bark chips not intended for further processing A Permit to Import is required. Prior approval is required before importation of ash wood chips or bark chips. The CFIA may approve the import of ash wood chips or bark chips on the evaluation of proposed treatment measures or certification systems if they can be proven to mitigate the risk of introducing any life stage of emerald ash borer. Other policy directives may have specific requirements for other plant pests. 2.2.1.3 Ash nursery stock Imports of ash nursery stock are prohibited from US counties regulated for emerald ash borer. 2.2.2 Regulated commodities from US counties not regulated for emerald ash borer within a regulated stateA Permit to Import is required. A valid Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed by the USDA is required. The Phytosanitary Certificate must bear the following additional declaration: "The material described herein was produced / harvested in a county where the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) does not to occur, based on official surveys." 2.2.3 From a US state not regulated for emerald ash borer2.2.3.1 Ash logs and wood with bark attached A Permit to Import is not required. A valid Phytosanitary Certificate is not required. Shipping documents must indicate the state where the ash logs and wood with bark attached originate. Other policy directives may have specific requirements for other plant pests. 2.2.3.2 Ash wood chips or bark chips not intended for further processing A Permit to Import is not required. A valid Phytosanitary Certificate is not required. Shipping documents must indicate the state where the ash wood chips or bark chips originate. Other policy directives may have specific requirements for other plant pests. 2.2.3.3 Ash nursery stock A Permit to Import is not required. A valid Phytosanitary Certificate is required. The import requirements for nursery stock from the US are contained within CFIA policy D-02-02 Import requirements for rooted, or unrooted plants, plant parts, and tissue cultured plants for propagation. Other policy directives may have specific requirements for other plant pests. 2.2.4 From all areas of the world except the continental United States2.2.4.1 Ash logs, wood with bark attached and wood chips or bark chips Logs, wood with bark attached, lumber, wood chips, bark chips, bamboo products, decorative wood items and cones without seed and other forest product imports are regulated as described in policy directive D-02-12. 2.2.4.2 Ash nursery stock New off-continent sources The import into Canada of Fraxinus spp. from any area of the world not currently approved for this genus by Canada (with the exception of the continental US) requires a Pest Risk Assessment to identify all regulated pests potentially associated with the species as well as the origin and the efficacy of potential treatments or certification systems. The eligibility and/or conditions for entry into Canada will be determined upon receipt of the Pest Risk Assessment. If no importations are received within a three year period from a source currently approved by the CFIA, that origin will be removed from the list of countries recognized to export until such time as an updated Pest Risk Assessment has been completed. The Pest Risk Assessment will evaluate 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 phytoplasmas, fungi, viruses, nematodes, insects, mites, molluscs, parasitic plants and weeds. The Horticulture Section of the CFIA can be contacted for further information on this process in relation to nursery stock. Approved off-continent sources A Permit to Import is required. A valid Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed by the NPPO is required. Material must originate from one of the countries approved by the CFIA as eligible to export Fraxinus spp. (ash) to Canada. The Horticulture Section of the CFIA can be contacted for the list of approved countries. All shrub and tree propagative material imported into Canada must be:
Rooted plants must be bare-root or potted in an approved growing medium under the Canadian Growing Medium Program, described in 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. 2.3 Domestic requirementsThe domestic movement of ash nursery stock, ash trees, logs, lumber and wood with bark attached, wood chips or bark chips from trees in the genus Fraxinus spp., firewood of all species and vehicles that were used to carry these articles from infested places to other areas of Canada will be permitted only where a Movement Certificate has been issued by a CFIA Plant Protection inspector. Regulated articles originating from non-infested places of Canada that are in transit through an infested place may do so only if they are transported in containers that are sealed or closed, and that move through the infested places without delay. 3.0 Inspection Requirements3.1 Document VerificationAll shipments of regulated commodities imported into Canada must be referred to the Import Service Centres (ISC). CFIA inspectors will verify that all documentation accompanying shipments of regulated commodities meet the import requirements specified in Section 2.2 above. 3.2 Product ExaminationConsignments containing logs, wood with bark attached, wood chips or bark chips, nursery stock and firewood are subject to inspection and sampling upon arrival. Import inspections will be conducted at either the port of entry or another place designated by a CFIA inspector. The frequency of commodity import inspections are subject to current operational work plans. Consignments will be examined for the presence of bark, living regulated and potential quarantine pests, soil and for signs of living pests such as bore holes, frass and uncommon product damage related to pest activities. During product inspections, CFIA inspectors may be required to disassemble wood products, collect samples of wood damage and/or pests. If required, inspectors may collect samples of any detected pests, detain shipments, and submit specimens for identification. 4.0 Non-ComplianceAny regulated material found to be infested with a pest or found to have signs or symptoms of pests will be required to be returned to the country of origin or disposed/processed of in a manner approved by the CFIA. In addition, a notification of non-compliance will be issued in accordance with policy directive D-01-06, Canadian phytosanitary policy for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action. All costs associated with non-compliant commodities are the responsibility of the importer. CFIA approved methods of disposal/processing for non-compliant product are defined in Appendix 2. 5.0 AppendicesAppendix 1: List of Areas Regulated for the Emerald Ash Borer Appendix 1List of Areas Regulated for the Emerald Ash Borer NOTE: An importer/exporter can obtain the current list of emerald ash borer regulated areas from their local CFIA Office or through D-03-08 which can be found on the CFIA Web site: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/directe.shtml. Appendix 2Canadian Food Inspection Agency Approved Disposal/Processing Methods CFIA may permit non-compliant wood and wood products and nursery stock to be disposed of or processed (if applicable) in the following ways:
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