Phytopthera ramorum update
Despite efforts to develop and comply with voluntary certification programs, wholesale nursery growers across Canada continue to face a great deal of uncertainty over the P. ramorum issue and its ability to impact their respective businesses.
Testing conducted by B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries to help growers comply with industry-lead certification programs resulted in suspicious finds of P. ramorum at a small number of B.C. nurseries. Nursery blocks were placed under quarantine by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency until further, confirmatory testing is complete.
As of February 14, CFIA has released all of these nurseries, as it was unable to substantiate reported findings of P. ramorum despite exhaustive testing. Other developments related to P. ramorum:
- The Canadian nursery industry is in the process of establishing a Nursery Certification Institute (NCI). While the immediate goal of the NCI is to manage the P. ramorum certification program, its long-term objective will be to provide integrated verification and other related services for a wide range of existing and future certification programs. A national steering committee has been formed and by-laws are currently being drafted. More information will be made available on an on-going basis. As an interim measure, B.C. nurseries that have already been tested and have had no positive finds of P. ramorum, are being provided with confirmation letters by BCLNA legal counsel. A list of certified companies can be found on the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association web site: www.canadanursery.com.
- The British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association continues to offer workshops to the wholesale and retail sectors. For more information, contact the office at 604-574-7772. Landscape Ontario also offered workshops to Ontario’s grower and retail sectors this past March.
- The long awaited USDA Emergency Order finally went into effect on January 10. This order prohibits the domestic out-of-state movement of all nursery stock from California, Oregon and Washington unless certain conditions are met. For more information, go to: www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/pramorum/.
CFIA is expected to put in place a similar directive to restrict imports into Canada from these three states. This ruling is imminent (check the CFIA sudden oak death home page for the latest information). It is not anticipated that this will have a large impact on shipments into Canada, as most west coast nurseries have been in compliance since last fall. Each state’s nursery association and/or department of agriculture have posted lists of certified nurseries on their following web sites:
Oregon: www.oan.org/pramorum.html
Washington: www.agr.wa.gov/PlantsInsects/Diseases/SOD/default.htm
California: www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pe/sod_survey/
CFIA has updated its list of species regulated as host plants of P. ramorum. Visit: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/sodspe.shtml.
Canadian Nursery Certification Program
After seven years of running pilot certification programs (three in Ontario and five in B.C.), the CFIA has released its first draft of the new Canadian Nursery Certification Program (CNCP). Two training sessions for operations staff were held in B.C. and Ontario in late February and early March. It is expected that the increased incidences of regulated pests in North America will generate more interest from industry in participating in these systems-based phytosanitary export programs.
For further information, contact Rita Weerdenburg, ritaw@landscapeontario.com.
Emerald ash borer update
CFIA has stated its commitment to continue with efforts to eradicate, or at least substantially slow, the spread of EAB in 2005. In 2004, CFIA tree survey data revealed low levels of infestation in Chatham-Kent. The CFIA and the EAB Science Committee have evaluated the situation and determined that the level of infestation in Chatham-Kent is still at a manageable level. There is a significant opportunity to reduce the spread based on current observations. A new Ministerial Order will prohibit the movement of nursery stock, firewood and Ash nursery stock, including:
- Ash trees, logs, lumber, wood with bark attached, wood chips or bark chips;
- All firewood (all species); and
- Vehicles used to carry these articles.
For more information or to view or download a copy of the CFIA press release, the New Ministerial Order or the Q&A on tree removal, go to www.canadanursery.com.
Japanese beetle updateThe revised CFIA directive D-96-15 will not be released until the French translation is completed.
Although it was expected that CFIA would call together all stakeholders for a meeting to discuss the details of this revision and its impact on various regions and sectors, this now seems unlikely. The new directive will not affect the 2005 spring shipping season. CNLA will make another application to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency for emergency use registration of Imidacloprid, in the event that this product will be necessary to ensure access to the Atlantic provinces marketplace in 2006. A copy of the directive will be posted on the CNLA web site as soon as it is released (notification will be sent to industry in a future growers’ update). Questions should be forwarded to ritaw@landscapeontario.com.
CFIA makes change to Import Permit regulations
The CFIA has announced that it has revised Directive D-97-04 “Application, procedures, issuance and use of a permit to import under the Plant Protection Act.”It is available for viewing at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-97-04e.shtml. This Revision contains an amendment to section 2.2. The CFIA will no longer accept applications for Permits to Import submitted by brokerage firms on behalf of clients.
New counties added to PSB list
CFIA has announced that three new counties in Minnesota have been added to Appendix 1 of Directive D-94-22, “List of pine shoot beetle infested areas in Canada and the United States.” To view a copy, visit www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/psbe.shtml.
