D-22-03: Phytosanitary requirements for the importation and domestic movement of grapevine material for propagation or decorative use as fresh cut vines

Effective date: April 17, 2025

This directive outlines the phytosanitary requirements for the importation of propagative grapevine material (Vitis spp.) for propagation or decorative use as fresh cut vines from all origins into Canada, and the domestic movement of this material into the province of British Columbia.

It also includes a list of the countries and United States (U.S.) states for which the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has accepted a virus certification program and for which the export of propagative grapevine material to Canada is approved.

On this page

• 1.0 Legislative authority
• 2.0 Definitions, abbreviations and acronyms
• 3.0 Introduction
• 4.0 Scope
  • 4.1 Regulated pests
  • 4.2 Regulated articles
  • 4.3 Articles outside the scope of this directive
  • 4.4 Regulated areas
• 5.0 Phytosanitary requirements
  • 5.1 Import requirements
  • 5.2 Domestic movement requirements
  • 5.3 Treatment requirements
  • 5.4 Exemptions for material imported for research and post-entry quarantine testing or treatment
  • 5.5 Prohibitions
  • 5.6 Inspection procedures
• 6.0 Virus certification program requirements
• 7.0 Non-compliance
• 8.0 References
  • 8.1 Fees
  • 8.2 Supporting documents
• Appendix 1: Approved sources from the United States
• Appendix 2: Approved sources from Europe
• Appendix 3: Regulated pests associated with imported grapevine material
• Appendix 4: Treatment requirements
• Appendix 5: Vitis Hot Water Treatment Program

1.0 Legislative authority

• Plant Protection Act (S.C. 1990, c. 22)
• Plant Protection Regulations (SOR/95-212)
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice, Canada Gazette, Part I (as amended from time to time)
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act (S.C. 1995, c. 40)
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations (SOR/2000-187)

2.0 Definitions, abbreviations and acronyms

Definitions of terms used in this document can be found in the:

• International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms
• North American Plant Protection Organization Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA's) Plant Health Glossary of Terms

A "section 43 import permit" is a permit to import issued under the authority of section 43 of the Plant Protection Regulations. This type of permit is issued for material that is otherwise prohibited entry into Canada.

For more information about CFIA import permits, see directive D-97-04: Application, Procedures, Issuance and Use of a Permit to Import under the Plant Protection Act.

3.0 Introduction

Canada regulates the importation and domestic movement of grapevines for propagation or decorative use as fresh cut vines from all origins to mitigate the risk of entry and establishment of plant pests. Importation of propagative grapevine material is permitted only from sources with CFIA-accepted virus certification programs in place to ensure that grapevine propagative material imported into Canada is free of pests regulated by the CFIA. Domestic movement into British Columbia of grapevine materials must also be certified prior to shipping.

The list of CFIA-accepted virus certification programs for Vitis spp., can be found in Appendix 1 (United States) and Appendix 2 (Europe). All countries or U.S. states wishing to export certified Vitis spp., material to Canada must provide CFIA with detailed information for review, as outlined in Section 6.0.

This directive amalgamates the grapevine-specific import and domestic requirements from all other sources into a single document. The requirements in this directive supersede the grapevine-specific requirements found in the directives:

• D-94-34: Import Requirements for grapevine propagative material
• D-94-35: List of Sources Approved to Export Fruit Tree and Grape Propagative Material to Canada.
• Quarantine Directive: Domestic-9, Part 1 (1988)
• D-08-04: Plant Protection Import Requirements for Plants and Plant Parts for Planting
• D-14-03: Phytosanitary Import Requirements for Fresh and Dried Branches, Cut Flowers and Other Plant Parts for Ornamental Purposes

As a result of the amalgamation, certain changes have been made.

Summary of changes

• The requirement for provisional release and testing of new grapevine material from any country other than the United States has been removed. Instead, all regulated material must originate from a CFIA-accepted certification program and may be subject to audit testing upon import to Canada, as outlined in section 5.1
• The requirements for countries wishing to export virus-certified propagative grapevine material through the administration of a CFIA-accepted virus certification program have been added in section 6
• The additional declaration for grapevine material produced under a CFIA-accepted virus certification program has been updated in section 5.1. The same additional declaration will now apply to all regulated genera and origins
• The requirements for domestic movement of regulated material into the province of British Columbia have been added in section 5.2
• Treatment requirements for the importation and domestic movement of regulated material have been clarified and updated as required in section 5.3
• The import requirements and eligibility for fresh decorative vines have been updated in section 5.1 and section 5.3. Fresh decorative vines are now approved to be imported into Canada from all CFIA-accepted certification programs, if all import and treatment requirements are met
• The authorization process and requirements for the CFIA's domestic Vitis Hot Water Treatment Program have been added in appendix 5
• Addition of a list of approved United States facilities eligible to export certified material to Canada in appendix 2
• Various editorial changes have been made to improve the clarity of the text

4.0 Scope

4.1 Regulated pests

Material must be free from all regulated pests of Canada. See the list of pests regulated by Canada for more information.

Appendix 3 provides a more specific list of pests regulated by Canada which can be associated with grapevine propagative material. This list is not exhaustive.

A list of significant pests of grapevines has also been developed by the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) and can be accessed within NAPPO Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (RSPM) 35: Guidelines for the Movement of Propagative Plant Material of Stone Fruit, Pome Fruit, and Grapevine into a NAPPO Member Country (PDF). Although not all the pests listed in RSPM 35 are regulated by Canada, these lists are useful references for the targeted testing and treatment that supports the transfer of clean grapevine material between trading partners.

4.2 Regulated articles

All propagative plant material of Vitis spp., including all species, hybrids and varieties of the following:

• Plants with roots (including grafted plants, rootstock)
• Plants without roots (including cuttings)
• In vitro plant material
• Fresh vines for decorative use^Footnote 1

4.3 Articles outside the scope of this directive

• Fruit of the regulated articles listed in section 4.2 (see directive D-95-08: Phytosanitary import requirements for fresh temperate fruits and tree nuts)
• Dried plant material (see directive D-14-03: Phytosanitary import requirements for fresh and dried branches, cut flowers and other plant parts for decorative purposes)
• Seeds (must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the NPPO of the exporting country but do not need to originate from a CFIA-accepted virus certification program)

4.4 Regulated areas

All origins.

5.0 Phytosanitary requirements

Regulated articles must meet the requirements listed in this directive. Material must also meet the requirements listed in D-08-04: Plant protection import requirements for plants and plant parts for planting and any other requirements specified in the CFIA's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).

5.1 Import requirements

An import permit and phytosanitary certificate are required from all origins.

Material must be free from all regulated pests.

Material with soil may be permitted from some areas of the continental U.S., if it meets all applicable requirements outlined in D-08-04: Plant protection import requirements for plants and plant parts for planting. Material originating from outside of the continental U.S. must be free from all growing media, soil, and soil-related matter.

Material may be subject to sampling, inspection and/or testing upon arrival in Canada as part of ongoing audit process.

Material must be produced under a CFIA-accepted virus certification program that meets the requirements outlined in section 6.0 and originates from one of the approved sources listed in appendix 1 (United States) or appendix 2 (Europe). This includes facilities participating in the National Clean Plant Network when recommended by the exporting NPPO.

The phytosanitary certificate must include the following additional declaration: "All material of Vitis spp. in this consignment has been produced under a virus certification program accepted by the CFIA."

For regulated material originating from the United States and destined to the province of British Columbia, the appropriate treatment requirement outlined in appendix 4 must be met and treatment details must appear on the phytosanitary certificate. See section 5.3 for more information about treatment requirements.

Please refer to D-97-04: Application, Procedures, Issuance and Use of a Permit to Import under the Plant Protection Act for additional information on the import permit process.

5.2 Domestic movement requirements

Domestic movement requirements apply to the movement of regulated material within Canada as required based on areas identified in ministerial orders, in Schedules I and II of the Plant Protection Regulations, in plant health directives, or in legislative notices.

The movement of material regulated by this directive from any Canadian province or territory into British Columbia is domestically regulated for grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae syn. Phylloxera vitifoliae) and the virus vectoring nematodes Longidorus, Trichodorus and Xiphinema spp. Although these nematodes may occur in British Columbia some of the viruses they transmit do not.

For regulated material moving into British Columbia from other areas of Canada, one of the treatment requirements outlined in appendix 4 must be met. A domestic movement certificate must be issued by the CFIA and include a description of the treatment that was used. See section 5.3 for more information about treatment requirements.

Refer to Domestic plant protection measures or contact your local CFIA office for more information on additional domestic movement requirements.

5.3 Treatment requirements

The CFIA requires certain imported grapevines to be treated by either hot water immersion or an approved chemical alternative, depending on their origin and destination. These treatments are required to help mitigate the risk of regulated phytoplasmas, virus vectoring nematodes, and/or insect pests such as grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae syn. Phylloxera vitifoliae). Full treatment details, including the target pests of concern, are outlined in appendix 4.

Treatment alternatives or certification based on area pest freedom will be considered by the CFIA on a case-by-case basis. The NPPO of the exporting country may determine that certain portions of its territory are free from specific grapevine pests as per ISPM 4: Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas. The NPPO must provide the CFIA with information demonstrating that the ISPM 4 guidelines have been met. The CFIA will review the information provided as per ISPM 29: Recognition of pest free areas and areas of low pest prevalence and will communicate the results in writing to the NPPO. For certification based on pest free area, official pest free area status must be established for areas where the grapevines are grown as well as all areas where propagative materials originate.

For most imported material, treatment must be completed prior to export and documented on the accompanying phytosanitary certificate, however the CFIA's Vitis Hot Water Treatment Program allows approved Canadian importers to perform hot water treatment after the vines arrive in Canada.

5.4 Exemptions for material imported for research or post-entry quarantine testing and/or treatment

Small quantities of material from unapproved sources may be allowed into Canada for scientific research, or for post-entry quarantine testing and/or treatment on a case-by-case basis.

5.5 Prohibitions

Material is prohibited from all states and/or countries not listed in appendix 1 and appendix 2.

Material is prohibited from all Flavescence dorée control areas of France^Footnote 2, or any other infested area of a country where the disease occurs.

5.6 Inspection procedures

Imported material is subject to inspection upon arrival in Canada. Refer to the General Import Inspection Procedures for Plant Health for further information on the inspection process.

The CFIA will periodically audit/review the exporting country's virus certification program to ensure it continues to meet the certification standards of Canada's import requirements. This may include destructive sampling of imported propagative grapevine material upon arrival in Canada for the purpose of testing to verify compliance with CFIA import requirements.

6.0 Virus certification program requirements

Most propagative grapevine material imported into Canada must be produced by a facility certified under a CFIA-accepted virus certification program which meets the criteria outlined in RSPM 35: Guidelines for the Movement of Propagative Plant Material of Stone Fruit, Pome Fruit, and Grapevine into a NAPPO Member Country (PDF). Administration of this program must be carried out by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the exporting country, or an entity authorized to perform certification on its behalf.

The certification program must certify material to be free from the regulated pests listed in appendix 3 through appropriate testing and inspection of the parent stock and its progeny or through the establishment of a pest free area as outlined in International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 4. Material must be adequately labelled to confirm identity and certification status, and stored under conditions that safeguard it from reinfection.

Countries that wish to export virus-certified propagative grapevine material to Canada must first submit a copy of their official virus certification program to the CFIA for evaluation. The evaluation process may include a documentation review, a site visit, and/or testing of plants by the CFIA to ensure they meet the standard of the virus certification program. Once accepted, the exporting NPPO or authorized entity must provide CFIA with a list of approved facilities eligible to export certified material to Canada, as well as the genera of certified grapevine material approved for each nursery. This list must be updated by the exporting NPPO or authorized entity on an annual basis, or as changes occur. This list will be published on CFIA's webpage to facilitate the permit application process for Canadian importers.

The list of countries and U.S. states currently approved to authorize facilities to export propagative grapevine material to Canada can be found in appendix 1 (United States) and appendix 2 (Europe).

The CFIA may review and/or audit its accepted virus certification programs at any time to ensure that they continue to meet the certification standards outlined in RSPM 35 as well as Canada's import requirements. This may be done on a periodic basis, or in response to changes in certification program or pest status, or evidence of non-compliance. The review process may include destructive testing of imported plant material, site visits, and/or documentation review.

7.0 Non-compliance

Imported articles may be inspected by the CFIA and must meet all requirements when reaching their first point of arrival in Canada. Articles that are found to be infested with pests of quarantine concern or are otherwise non-compliant will be refused entry to Canada, and may be ordered removed from the country or destroyed. Infested articles may be treated prior to disposal to prevent the spread of pests. The importer is responsible for all costs relating to treatment, disposal or removal of the articles, including costs incurred by the CFIA to monitor the action taken. The CFIA will advise the NPPO of the country of origin and/or re-export of any non-compliance as per directive D-01-06: Canadian phytosanitary policy for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action.

8.0 References

8.1 Fees

The CFIA charges fees in accordance with the Fees Notice. For more information regarding fees, please contact your local CFIA office.

8.2 Supporting documents

• ISPM 4: Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas
• D-01-06: Canadian phytosanitary policy for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action
• D-08-04: Plant Protection Import Requirements for Plants and Plant Parts for Planting
• D-97-04: Application, Procedures, Issuance and Use of a Permit to Import under the Plant Protection Act
• D-97-06: Plant protection export certification program for grapevine nursery stock, Vitis spp.
• Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (RSPM) 35: Guidelines for the Movement of Propagative Plant Material of Stone Fruit, Pome Fruit, and Grapevine into a NAPPO Member Country (PDF)
• General Import Inspection Procedures for Plant Health

Appendix 1: Approved sources from the United States

The U.S. states listed below have virus certification programs or National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) facilities that have been accepted by the CFIA for the export of Vitis spp. material for propagation or decorative use to Canada. Where a public list is not available, new program participants or NCPN facilities must be recommended to the CFIA by USDA-APHIS, or an entity authorized to perform certification on its behalf, prior to being added to this list. Material from other sources may be approved for export to Canada following evaluation and acceptance by the CFIA, as outlined in section 6.0.

Importers are encouraged to confirm with their exporters of their participation in the virus certification program as this information is subject to change without notice.

See the CFIA-accepted facilities and programs:

Appendix 2: Approved sources from Europe

The European countries listed below have virus certification programs that have been accepted by the CFIA for the export of Vitis spp. material for propagation or decorative use to Canada. New program participants must be recommended to the CFIA by the exporting NPPO, or an entity authorized to perform certification on its behalf, prior to being added to this list. Material from other sources may be approved for export to Canada following evaluation and acceptance by the CFIA, as outlined in section 6.0.

Importers are encouraged to confirm with their exporters of their participation in the virus certification program as this information is subject to change without notice.

France

Germany

Only approved rootstocks and varieties/clones may be imported from Germany. This material must be produced and exported from an approved facility.

Appendix 3: Regulated pests associated with imported grapevine material

Imported material must be free from pests regulated by Canada. The list below contains pests regulated by Canada which may be associated with grapevine (Vitis spp.) material. Material produced under a CFIA-accepted virus certification program must be free from the pests listed below.

This list is not exhaustive and does not include insect or nematode pests regulated under other plant health directives. Please consult other plant health directives or the CFIA's AIRS for more information.

Appendix 4: Treatment requirements

As outlined in section 5.3, the CFIA requires certain imported grapevines to be treated by either hot water immersion or an accepted chemical alternative with a product that is registered for use against the pest(s) of concern, depending on their origin and end destination. These treatments are detailed below. Alternative treatments or certification based on area pest freedom may be considered by CFIA at the request of certifying NPPOs.

Appendix 4.1 Originating from the U.S. or Canada, and destined to the province of British Columbia

These requirements also apply to domestic movement of non-dormant grapevines from outside of British Columbia.

Appendix 4.2 Originating from outside of the U.S., and destined to anywhere in Canada

Appendix 5: Vitis Hot Water Treatment Program

Consult Vitis Hot Water Treatment Program.