D-04-01: Canadian Nursery Certification Program (CNCP)

Eligible nursery stock of Canadian origin must fall into one of the following categories to be certified under the CNCP:

• eligible plant material grown at the authorized facility for a period of time that is no less than one growing cycle for greenhouse grown plants (for the purpose of this directive, a growing cycle must be no shorter than 28 days) and one growing season for field and container grown plants (for the purposes of this directive, a growing season is a period of the year when plants actively grow in a production area and must be no less than 120 day); and which includes at least one surveillance audit (internal or external)
• eligible plant material grown at either a CNCP or GCP authorized facility and accompanied by the appropriate interfacility stamp (section 5.4.2 of this directive and in D-16-02)
• eligible plant material inspected at the originating facility and accompanied by a CFIA/ACIA 1337^Footnote 1 inspection report
• eligible plant material inspected at the authorized facility by the CFIA and issued a CFIA/ACIA 1337 inspection report
• eligible plant material that is sourced from a contract grower under conditions outlined in the authorized facility's CNCP manual and authorized by the CFIA
• eligible plant material that is sourced from an industry administered certification program as listed in appendix 14

Eligible nursery stock of U.S. origin must fall into one of the following categories to be certified under the program:

• eligible plant material accompanied by a U.S. phytosanitary certificate
• eligible plant material grown at the authorized facility for a period of time that is no less than one growing cycle for greenhouse grown plants and one growing season for field and container grown plants; and which includes at least one surveillance audit (internal or external)
• eligible plant material that is inspected by the CFIA at destination and is accompanied by a CFIA/ACIA 1337 inspection report
• eligible plant material grown under the US Nursery Certification Program (USNCP) at a certified facility in the U.S. and accompanied by a USNCP phytosanitary certificate

To be certified under the program, nursery stock that originates from countries other than Canada and the U.S. must fall into one of the following categories:

• eligible plant material that meets U.S. import requirements and is inspected by the CFIA and accompanied by a CFIA/ACIA 1337 inspection report
• eligible plant material that meets U.S. import requirements and is grown at the authorized facility for a period of time that is no less than one growing cycle for greenhouse grown plants and one growing season for field and container grown plants; and which includes at least one surveillance audit (internal or external)
• eligible plant material that does not meet U.S. import requirements but is eligible for certification under the program, must be grown at the authorized facility for a period of time that is sufficient to meet U.S. import requirements and that includes at least one external surveillance audit

Canadian phytosanitary certificates issued by the CFIA are patterned after the model certificates of the IPPC (ISPM 12: Guidelines for Phytosanitary Certificates), signed by an authorized certification officer (ACO), and sealed with an official Canadian phytosanitary certificate seal (Plant Protection Regulations, Section 55(1)).

Plant material exported to the United States must meet all the phytosanitary requirements of the USDA-APHIS and must be accompanied by a Canadian phytosanitary certificate. A CNCP phytosanitary certificate, contains all the information found in a traditional Canadian phytosanitary certificate, may be used in lieu of a traditional Canadian phytosanitary certificate to certify plant material for export under the CNCP.

The CNCP phytosanitary certificate is composed of a pre-printed label called a 'CNCP phytosanitary certification label', which is affixed to a CNCP export label document. The phytosanitary certification label is pre-printed with:

• a unique serial number
• the authorized facility's identification number
• the name and address of the authorized facility
• the signature of the national manager of the horticulture section
• the CFIA seal
• a certification statement
• a liability statement

The CNCP export label document (appendix 3) is an official CFIA form that is completed and printed by the authorized facility. It contains:

• a large space designated for affixing the CNCP phytosanitary certification label
• the date
• the name and address of the exporter
• references to invoices or bills of lading
• a description of the consignment and its means of conveyance
• the following additional declaration for the program:

  This shipment of plants was produced in accordance with the Canadian Nursery Certification Program and is considered to conform with the phytosanitary import requirements of the United States.

• a description of any treatments that are applied to meet export requirements
• a list of the scientific names of the plants in the shipment

When the CNCP phytosanitary certification label is affixed to the designated space on a completed CNCP export label document it forms a CNCP phytosanitary certificate, a document that contains all the information found on a traditional Canadian phytosanitary certificate. The CNCP phytosanitary certification label may only be applied to the completed CNCP export label document after the product described by it has been examined for pests and verified to meet all the requirements for certification under the program and within 72 hours of shipping the certified product. The shipment must be safeguarded prior to shipping to protect its phytosanitary integrity.

The authorized facility must exercise strict control over the use of the CNCP phytosanitary certificates and must be able to account for every CNCP phytosanitary certification label issued under its control. Under no circumstances can CNCP phytosanitary certification labels, which have not yet been affixed to an export label document, be given to anyone other than a person authorized and employed by the authorized facility. Copies of all CNCP phytosanitary certificates must also be kept as part of the authorized facility's records. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in a immediate suspension from the program.

Plant material that is certified by an authorized facility for trade within Canada, must be accompanied by documentation that bears an interfacility stamp. The interfacility stamp informs authorized CNCP facilities, and plant brokers acting on their behalf, that the material is eligible for shipment to the U.S. under the CNCP. Plants shipped with an IFS to facilities that are not authorized CNCP facilities lose their certified status and must be inspected by the CFIA and issued a traditional Canadian phytosanitary certificate prior to export to the U.S. The authorized facility may apply the interfacility stamp to documentation for shipments containing CNCP certified material, even if the shipment also contains material that does not meet the requirements of the program. In such cases, plant material that does not meet the requirements for certification under the program must be identified on the invoice by an asterisk (*). If none of the material in the shipment meets the requirements for certification, the interfacility stamp must not be used.

The authorized facility must maintain strict control of their interfacility stamp. The CNCP manual must describe how the stamps are used, where they are stored and who is responsible for their use. Records must be kept of all stamped shipments. These records must include quantity, country of origin, destination, genera, and where required, species and/or cultivar. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in suspension from the program.

The CNCP application form for facilities (Appendix 5) will be reviewed by CFIA for completeness, including the appropriate signature, and to ensure that all the required elements in Section 8.0 are addressed and adequate to meet the requirements of this directive. Revisions of the CNCP manual may be required. Once the CNCP manual has been approved, a facility evaluation will be conducted.

The CFIA lead auditor will establish a team to conduct a facility evaluation. The purpose of the facility evaluation is to determine whether the facility has the infrastructure and staff in place to successfully implement the phytosanitary management system, a systems approach that is used to direct and control an organization with regard to consistently meeting all the requirements of the program as outlined in its CNCP manual. A written audit report will be prepared following completion of the facility evaluation that summarizes the findings.

Once the facility evaluation has been completed and the CFIA lead auditor is satisfied that the facility has the capacity to effectively implement all of the procedures described in their CNCP manual, the facility can be authorized under the CNCP. Each production facility authorized under the program will be assigned a unique identification number by the CFIA at the time of registration. The identification number will be composed of three (3) letters and four (4) numbers. The first letter of the identification number is always an 'A' and indicates that the shipment originates from a facility authorized in the program. The second two letters indicate the province where the authorized facility is located, and the remaining digits are assigned by the CFIA in a manner that ensures there is no duplication.

Each facility authorized under the program will be posted on the CFIA's website (Appendix 10). This list will include the names and addresses of authorized facilities. Separate facilities under autonomous management will each receive a unique identification number and will be authorized and audited separately. Should a facility withdraw, or be suspended from the program, the facility's name and address will be removed and the facility will not be permitted to export, or move material domestically under the program.

A systems audit is a systematic examination of the organizational structure, procedures, processes and resources used in implementing the program within the authorized facility. The objective of a systems audit is to determine whether the procedures and processes described in the CNCP manual are adequate to meet the requirements of this directive, and whether the resources and infrastructure are in place to effectively implement the program. A systems audit is conducted on an annual basis.

A surveillance audit is a verification that the status of the facility's plant material, pest management program, records and administrative procedures conform to the CNCP manual. Surveillance audits evaluate whether the facility has the resources, infrastructure and staff in place to successfully implement the procedures outlined in its CNCP manual, whether the procedures described in the CNCP manual are implemented and documented, and whether all certified nursery stock meets the requirements of the program. Surveillance audits should be carried out during periods of active plant growth.

Audit findings that indicate that the integrity of the program at the authorized facility is in jeopardy, are considered to be critical non-conformances and the facility will be immediately suspended from the program (section 6.5). The facility will remain suspended until corrective actions have been implemented and verified by the CFIA. If the non-conformance can be corrected immediately, a corrective action request must still be issued to record the incident.

Major non-conformances are isolated incidents of non-conformance, which do not immediately impact the integrity of the certified product. Corrective actions must be carried out to the satisfaction of CFIA within a specified period of time. The corrective actions will include measures to prevent a reoccurrence and will generally require a change to the CNCP manual.

If two or more major non-conformances are detected during an audit, or if the facility fails to carry out the required corrective actions within the specified time period, the facility will be immediately suspended from the program (section 6.5).

Minor non-conformances are those that do not immediately or significantly affect the status of the product, but could lead to a major non-conformance if not addressed. If three (3) minor non-conformances are detected in any one audit, it is considered equivalent to one major non-conformance (for example, four (4) minor non-conformances can be considered as one major non-conformance and one minor non-conformance; six (6) minor non-conformances can be considered two major non-conformances). Corrective actions must be undertaken by the facility before the next scheduled audit, or within a time limit specified by the CFIA.

Observations are points or practices, which could be used to improve the facility's CNCP manual and phytosanitary management system. An observation may be used to identify a situation of concern that does not warrant a corrective action request, or to highlight, suggest or reinforce particular practices.

An authorized facility will normally remain at probationary status for 2 years after it is approved for participation in the program. While under probationary status, the CFIA will conduct a minimum of 1 systems audit and 3 surveillance audits annually.

Generally, a facility may remain at probationary status for a maximum of 2 consecutive years. If it has not achieved Standard Status by the end of this period, the facility will be suspended (Section 6.5.3). Facilities that return to the program after being suspended from the program may be placed at probationary status.

Facilities whose business is highly seasonal may remain on probationary status indefinitely, at the discretion of the CFIA. The CFIA must conduct a minimum of one systems audit and one surveillance audit each year. Additional surveillance audits must be carried out at three month intervals during the authorized facility's operating season.

Standard status is reserved for facilities that consistently meet the requirements of the program. CFIA audit reports from facilities on probationary status will be evaluated once a year, or upon recommendation of the lead auditor. Those facilities that have consistently met the requirements of the program during the probationary period may be changed to standard status, at the discretion of the CFIA.

Facilities that operate under low pest risk conditions may be moved to standard status following one year of acceptable compliance with the program, at the discretion of the CFIA.

For facilities at standard status, the CFIA will conduct a minimum of one systems audit and two surveillance audits annually.

Facilities at standard status may be placed at probationary status as a result of making significant modifications to their CNCP manual, or as an alternative to suspension. This decision can only be made after considering the number and type of non-conformances identified and how quickly the corrective action requests can be addressed and is at the discretion of the lead auditor. Audits will then be conducted at a frequency determined by the lead auditor.

The lead auditor is responsible for suspending a facility from the program. Suspended facilities cannot ship material under the CNCP. The lead auditor must take possession of all the phytosanitary certification labels, interfacility stamps and phytosanitary certificates, and notify the Horticulture Section to remove the facility from the published list of authorized facilities. Once the facility has completed corrective actions it may be re-instated in the program at either standard or probationary status, at the discretion of the lead auditor. In some situations, the facility may be required to re-apply for certification in the program after the phytosanitary management system and CNCP manual have been reviewed and restructured to address all non-conformities (Section 6.1). If re-approved, the CFIA may then return the labels and stamps and re-list the facility on the published list of authorized facilities.

If there is reason to suspect that plant material that has been certified by an authorized facility is contaminated with a pest of quarantine significance to either the U.S. or Canada, all shipments from that facility must immediately stop until the CFIA has carried out an inspection and/or audit and any required regulatory actions and modifications to the phytosanitary management system are completed. The CFIA will not issue phytosanitary certificates except after CFIA product inspections of individual lots have been completed. The authorized facility may be permitted to resume shipping nursery stock under the program after investigation is complete at the discretion of the CFIA.

The CNCP manual must describe all types of sources for new or incoming plant material, such as: propagation, other authorized facilities, domestic phytosanitary certification program authorized facilities, non-authorized nurseries, brokers, wholesalers, and contract growers. The country where each of these sources is located must also be noted. The CFIA must be notified of any changes to the source of direct sales stock or propagative stock. The CNCP manual must also describe the measures in place to ensure that documents which support the country of origin of the nursery stock from each of these sources is obtained and that sourced plant material is free of regulated pests and that the risk of introducing and transmitting plant pests is mitigated.

The authorized facility must maintain records verifying that all plant material certified under the program meets the requirements outlined in section 5.2 and section 5.3 of this directive. Records identifying the country of origin and supporting the eligibility of plant material must be maintained in order for plant material to be exported from Canada.

The phytosanitary management system must include procedures for maintaining product identity within the facility from receiving until shipping and for tracing product forward and backward from the authorized facility.

The authorized facility must have procedures in place to ensure that non-conforming product does not contaminate or become mixed with other products. The phytosanitary management system must include the maintenance of detailed records that document non-conformances, corrective actions, audits and follow-up examinations, and verify compliance with this directive.

Facility staff must notify the certification manager immediately if any products that have been certified are found not to conform with the requirements of this directive. If product is found to be contaminated or suspected to be contaminated with a regulated pest, the certification manager or crop protection manager must notify the CFIA immediately. All shipments from the authorized facility must stop until the CFIA has carried out an inspection and/or audit and has determined that the pest risk has been mitigated, as per section 6.5.4

The certification manager must perform, or designate and supervise parties to perform, one (1) internal system audit and four (4) surveillance audits per year. The surveillance audits must include at least one during the active growing season and at least one during the shipping season. Records from each audit must be maintained and a report must be prepared within two weeks of performing each audit detailing any non-conformances, corrective actions and opportunities for improvement. Internal audit reports must be made available to the CFIA audit teams for review during audits. The CFIA suggests that internal audits be carried out prior to each CFIA audit and that audits be performed to complement the certification of plants, as per section 5.3. The persons performing internal audits must not audit their own work. Examples of audit checklists can be found in appendix 12 and appendix 13.

Internal systems audits verify:

• the adequacy and effectiveness of the facility's processes in meeting the requirements outlined in this directive
• whether the required documentation is sufficient, current and readily available to staff
• whether the phytosanitary management system is operating in accordance with the specified requirements, including the performance of all staff identified in the CNCP manual; and
• the development of a corrective action plan to deal with each non-conformance identified

Internal surveillance audits verify:

• the effectiveness of the pest management plan in preventing the introduction or establishment of pests
• the competency of facility employees in identifying and controlling pests and carrying out duties and responsibilities as outlined in the CNCP manual
• record keeping is compliant with the CNCP manual and is sufficient to keep track of the country of origin of plant material, labels, etc.; and
• that actions are taken on outstanding non-conformances and corrective action requests

Activities or products that are found to be in contravention of this directive are considered non-conforming. A corrective action request must be generated for each non-conformance that is detected by the authorized facility (Appendix 8).

In addition, these non-conformances must be classified as being either critical, major, or minor (Section 6.4). Guidelines describing the classification of non-conformances can be found in appendix 9. Corrective action requests associated with a critical or a major non-conformance must be completed within a specified period of time. Corrective action requests must include detailed instructions to prevent recurrence of the non-conformance and will generally require that the CNCP manual be amended.

The CFIA must be notified immediately where there is the presence, or suspected presence, of any critical non-conformance in the facility, or associated with product purchased or sold by the facility. If the CFIA is not immediately notified, the facility will be suspended from the program.

Observations may be used to identify situations of concern, which do not warrant a corrective action request, or to describe practices which are worth highlighting, suggesting or reinforcing. Observations should be reported and used by the authorized facility to improve their CNCP manual and phytosanitary management system.

The authorized facility must maintain records to verify that it has implemented the phytosanitary management system as described in its CNCP manual, that substantiate the country of origin of all certified plant material and that demonstrate that plant material certified under the program meets the requirements of this directive. A checklist of records required by the program is included in the CNCP manual checklist in Appendix 11.

Program records must be kept on the premises of the authorized facility and must be made available to CFIA inspectors upon request. Records that pertain to product identity and trace back and trace forward of certified plant material (records described in section 8.1.1 and section 8.1.2) must be maintained for at least seven (7) years. Other records that are required by the program must be maintained for a minimum of three (3) years.

Training records must be maintained for each employee involved in the delivery of the phytosanitary management system. Records are to include a training schedule, the type of training received, the date of training, whether training was completed satisfactorily and any additional training needs that are identified.

In addition, up-to-date copies of the following documents or access to the following websites must be accessible for all facility staff and contractors:

• Plant Protection Act and Plant Protection Regulations
• APHIS Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements – Plants for Planting and Propagation
• USDA-APHIS Plants for Planting Manual
• CFIA and USDA-APHIS regulated pest lists
• copies of this directive
• copies of the authorized facility's CNCP manual
• any relevant state and provincial requirements

The CFIA may require the pest management plan to include additional requirements such as examination, and/or testing for plant material that has specific quarantine pest considerations. This higher risk plant material may include plants that are hosts to specific pests of concern, plants imported from outside continental North America, plants exported to states within the U.S. that have additional certification standards, or stock plants that are held for more than a growing season.

In cases where additional pest- or plant-specific directives or post-entry quarantine requirements apply to the authorized facility, or to products produced by the authorized facility, the CNCP manual must include 'modules', or descriptions of how each of the specific phytosanitary requirements are being met. The pest management plan must outline any sampling, testing, treatments, or other measures in place to ensure that the product meets all the phytosanitary requirements – both general and specific. The certification manager or crop protection manager must ensure that all pest and plant specific requirements are met prior to shipping. The names and qualifications of any laboratories used for testing must be included in the pest management plan. Samples must not be sent to a foreign country for testing unless the material meets the requirements of the importing country. These procedures must also be described in the pest management plan. The pest management plan must be readily available for use by employees involved in implementing the program.

Maps of the authorized facility included in the pest management plan must be labelled to identify the receiving, production, handling and shipping areas, and any areas that are referred to in pest management records. The flow of plant material through the facility must be described.

The pest management plan must describe the measures that are in place to ensure that all nursery stock entering the authorized facility is free from pests regulated by Canada and the U.S., practically free from other injurious pests, and that the risk of introducing and spreading plant pests such as spongy moth, box tree moth and Japanese beetle is mitigated.

New plant material must remain physically separated from other plant material and should not be integrated into the authorized facility's production system until a visual examination of the material is completed by the crop protection manager or appropriately trained and designated staff. Once the material has been inspected and is determined to be free from regulated plant pests and practically free from other injurious plant pests it may be moved into the production or shipping areas of the authorized facility. If pests are found, control measures must be taken immediately. Details of all examinations including a description of any pests found and corrective actions taken must be recorded.

All plant material in an authorized facility including plants destined for domestic markets and all production areas, must be examined by the crop protection manager or by designated staff according to the methods, frequency and intensity specified in the pest management plan. Details of all examinations, including a description of any pests found and corrective actions taken must be recorded.

The crop protection manager or designated staff must examine the shipping areas when shipments are being prepared to prevent pest contamination and to ensure that the phytosanitary standards are met. Each shipment of plant material to be certified under the program must be examined for pests at the time of shipping. Details of all examinations, including a description of any pests found and corrective actions taken must be recorded.

The authorized facility must establish adequate handling, storage and delivery procedures and ensure that product that has been examined and verified free of pests is not contaminated by pests prior to its receipt by the consignee. Product that has been examined and verified free from pests must be kept separated from non-verified material.

The facility must maintain a pest log which records the date, the person carrying out the examination, a description of the damage, symptoms, pest finds, identifications, recommended treatments, evaluation of treatment efficacy and submissions to laboratories, etc. The CFIA must be notified immediately of any pest finds of significance. Examples of such situations are: atypical or uncommon pest damage or symptoms, a new pest detected in an area of production, or when a new regulated pest is suspected. In the event of an infestation by a regulated pest, the CFIA will work co-operatively with the crop protection manager to ensure that effective controls are exercised by the facility to eradicate the pest and to minimize the effects on the producer. Failure to notify the CFIA when a new regulated pest is found by an authorized facility is considered a critical non-conformance and will result in immediate suspension from the program. All Canadian facilities are legally obligated to report any finds of regulated pests to the CFIA (per section 5 of Plant Protection Act).

Pest control strategies must be employed to ensure that the authorized facility remains free from regulated pests. Plant material shipped by the authorized facility must be free from all regulated plant pests and practically free from other injurious plant pests. The tolerance for non-quarantine pests in the authorized facility depends on the phytosanitary risk they present to certified plant material and whether the integrity of the phytosanitary management system has been compromised. Pest control strategies must be documented in the pest management plan and may include cultural, physical, biological and/or chemical controls. Treatments and cultural practices must be applied in a manner that mitigates the risk of spreading pests and contaminating other products. Records must be kept to verify that a treatment was applied, when it was applied, by whom, for what reason and whether the treatment was effective.

The pest management plan must describe how non-conforming infested product is identified and treated and what measures are in place to ensure that plant material that does not meet the phytosanitary requirements of this directive is not shipped under the program. Culled plant material must be disposed of in a manner that minimizes the risk of infecting other plant material and the environment. The pest management plan must include procedures for sampling and testing plant material in order to detect pests of concern that are not easy to discover by visual inspection alone (that is, pathogens) and for notifying the crop protection manager, facility management and the CFIA if product is contaminated, or suspected to be contaminated, with a regulated pest.

Records verifying that the pest management plan has been implemented, including details of all examinations, pest finds and corrective actions must be maintained for three (3) years. All records must be dated and signed by an individual designated to carry out the task. Appendix 11 contains a checklist of records that must be kept as part of the pest management plan.

Plant material imported into Canada in growing media from a country other than the U.S. is not eligible under the CNCP and is prohibited entry into the U.S. regardless of the length of time it is grown in Canada, as per USDA 7CFR 319.37-10. The only exception is plant material that is sourced from facilities that are approved under both the Canadian Growing Media Program (CGMP) and the USDA-APHIS Growing Media Program. Phytosanitary certificates for this plant material must include the additional declarations required by both APHIS and the CFIA. Please contact your local CFIA office for more information

• Adonidia spp.
• Aeginetia spp. x
• Ageratina adenophora x
• Aiphanes spp.
• Alectra spp. x
• Allagoptera arenaria
• Alternanthera sessilis x
• Areca spp. xxx
• Arenga spp. xxx
• Arikuryroba spp.
• Asphodelus fistulosus x
• Avena ludoviciana x
• Avena sterilis x
• Azolla pinnata xx
• Bambuseae – All genera
• Berberis spp.^Footnote 2
• Borassus spp. xxx
• Borreria alata x
• Bromeliaceae- All genera^Footnote 2
• Carthamus oxyacantha x
• Caryota spp. xxx
• Castanea spp.
• Chaenomeles spp.^Footnote 2 xxxx
• Chrysalidocarpus spp. xxx
• Chrysopogon aciculatus x
• Cocos spp. xxx
• Commelina benghalensis x
• Corypha spp.
• Crupina vulgaris x
• Cuscuta spp. x
• Cydonia spp.
• Dictyosperma spp. xxx
• Digitaria scalarum x
• Digitaria velutina x
• Drymaria arenarioides x
• Eichhornia azurea xx
• Elaeis spp. (Except seeds) xxx
• Emex australis x
• Emex spinosa x
• Euphorbia prunifolia (heterophylla) x
• Galega officinalis x
• Gausia spp. xxx
• Gossypium spp.
• Heracleum mantegazzianum x
• Howea spp. xxxx
• Humulus spp.
• Hydrilla verticillata xx
• Hygrophila polysperma xx
• Hyophrobe spp. xxx
• Imperata brasiliensis x
• Imperata cylindrical x
• Ipomoea aquatica^Footnote 2 xx
• Ipomoea triloba^Footnote 2
• Ischaemum rugosum x
• Lagarosiphon major xx
• Larix spp.^Footnote 2
• Latania spp. xxx
• Leptochloa chinensis x
• Leptochloa spp. (seeds only) x
• Limnophila sessiliflora xx
• Livistona spp. xxx
• Lycium ferocissimum x
• Mahoberberis spp.
• Mahonia spp.
• Malus spp.^Footnote 2 xxxx
• Mascarena spp. xxx
• Melaleuca quinquenervia xx
• Melastoma malabathricum x
• Mespilus germanica^Footnote 2
• Mikania cordata x
• Mikania micrantha x
• Mimosa invisa x
• Mimosa pigra x
• Monochoria hastata xx
• Monochoria vaginalis xx
• Nannorrhops spp. xxx
• Nassella trichotoma x
• Neodypsis spp. xxx
• Opuntia aurantiaca x
• Orobanche spp. x
• Oryza longistaminata x
• Oryza punctata x
• Oryza rufipogon x
• Ottelia alismoides xx
• Paspalum scrobiculatum x
• Pennisetum clandestinum x
• Pennisetum macrourum x
• Pennisetum pedicellatum x
• Pennisteum polystachion x
• Phoenix spp. xxx
• Pritchardia spp. xxx
• Prosopis spp. x
• Prunus spp. xxxx
• Pseudolarix spp.^Footnote 2
• Pyrus spp. xxxx
• Ravenea spp. xxx
• Rottboellia exaltata x
• Rubus spp.^Footnote 2 xxxx
• Rutaceae – All genera (includes Citrus spp., Dictamnus spp., Phellodendron spp.) xxxxx
• Saccharum spontaneum x
• Sagiittaria sagittifolia xx
• Salsola vermiculata x
• Salvinia auriculata xx
• Salvinia biloba xx
• Salvinia herzogii xx
• Salvinia molesta xx
• Setaria pallide-fusca x
• Solanum torvum^Footnote 2 x
• Solanum viarum^Footnote 2 x
• Sparganium erectum xx
• Stratoites aloides
• Striga spp. x
• Theobroma app.
• Trachycarpus spp. xxx
• Tridax procumbens x
• Urochloa panicoides x
• Veitchia spp.
• Vitis spp.^Footnote 2 xxxx
• x – noxious weed
• xx – aquatic noxious weed
• xxx – palm
• xxxx – fruit trees
• xxxxx – citrus

• Abelmoschus spp.^Footnote 2
• Abies
• Acacia spp.^Footnote 2
• Acer spp.^Footnote 2
• Achras spp.^Footnote 2
• Actinidia spp.^Footnote 2
• Aesculus spp.^Footnote 2
• Althaea spp.^Footnote 2
• Anacardium spp.^Footnote 2
• Annona spp.^Footnote 2
• Arachis spp.^Footnote 2
• Artocarpus spp.^Footnote 2
• Averrhoa spp.^Footnote 2
• Blighia sapida^Footnote 2
• Bouea spp.^Footnote 2
• Calocarpum spp.^Footnote 2
• Carica spp.^Footnote 2
• Carissa spp.^Footnote 2
• Carya spp.^Footnote 2
• Cedrus spp.^Footnote 2
• Ceratonia spp.^Footnote 2
• Chrysanthemum spp.^Footnote 2
• Chrysobalanus spp.^Footnote 2
• Chrysophyllum spp.^Footnote 2
• Cocoloba spp.^Footnote 2
• Coffea spp.^Footnote 2
• Corylus spp.^Footnote 2
• Crataegus spp.^Footnote 2
• Crocosmia spp.^Footnote 2
• Datura spp.^Footnote 2
• Dendranthema spp.^Footnote 2
• Dianthus spp.^Footnote 2
• Dimocarpus spp.^Footnote 2
• Diospyros spp.^Footnote 2
• Durio spp.^Footnote 2
• Eriobotrya spp.^Footnote 2
• Eucalyptus spp.^Footnote 2
• Eugenia spp.^Footnote 2
• Euonymus spp.^Footnote 2
• Euphoria spp.
• Fabaceae – herbaceous species
• Feijoa spp.^Footnote 2
• Ficus carica^Footnote 2
• Fragaria spp.
• Fraxinus spp.^Footnote 2
• Garcinia spp.^Footnote 2
• Gladiolus spp.^Footnote 2
• Hibiscus spp.^Footnote 2
• Hydrangea spp.^Footnote 2
• Jasminum spp.^Footnote 2
• Juglans spp.^Footnote 2
• Juniperus spp.^Footnote 2
• Lansium spp.^Footnote 2
• Ligustrum spp.^Footnote 2
• Litchi spp.^Footnote 2
• Macadamia spp.^Footnote 2
• Malphigia spp.^Footnote 2
• Mammea spp.^Footnote 2
• Mangifera spp.^Footnote 2
• Manihot spp.
• Manilkara spp.^Footnote 2
• Melicoccus spp.^Footnote 2
• Morus spp.^Footnote 2
• Nephelium spp.^Footnote 2
• Olea spp.^Footnote 2
• Passiflora spp.^Footnote 2
• Persea spp.^Footnote 2
• Philadelphus spp.^Footnote 2
• Phyllanthus spp.^Footnote 2
• Picea spp.^Footnote 2
• Pistacea vera^Footnote 2
• Poaceae – All genera
• Populus spp.^Footnote 2
• Pouteria^Footnote 2
• Pseudotsuga spp.^Footnote 2
• Psidium spp.^Footnote 2
• Punica spp.^Footnote 2
• Pyronia spp.^Footnote 2
• Quercus spp.^Footnote 2
• Rhodomyrtus spp.^Footnote 2
• Rosa spp.^Footnote 2
• Salix spp.^Footnote 2
• Solanum spp.
• Sorbus spp.^Footnote 2
• Spondias spp.^Footnote 2
• Syringa spp.^Footnote 2
• Syzygium spp.^Footnote 2
• Ulmus spp.^Footnote 2
• Vaccinium spp.^Footnote 2
• Watsonia spp.^Footnote 2
• Ziziphus spp.

The date entered on the export label document is the date on which the plant material is examined for shipping and must be within 72 hours of shipping. The date on the phytosanitary certificate indicates that, on that date, the nursery stock in the consignment was examined by a designated individual at the authorized facility and considered to meet the phytosanitary import requirements of the U.S.

The pages of the CNCP export label document must be numbered and the total number of pages that make up the document must be indicated.

The reference section may be used to record a permit to import number, when required. It may also include a maximum of two pieces of non-phytosanitary (trade) information that link the CNCP phytosanitary certificate to other documentation that accompanies the shipment. Information must be factual and could include: a letter of credit number, a bill of lading number or date, or another number that appears as an identifying feature on other documents.

The address of the consignee in the country of destination, the United States. Only one consignee may be entered per phytosanitary certificate.

Sufficient details should be included to enable the NPPO of the importing country (that is, United States) to identify the consignment and its component parts, and verify their size if necessary. Container numbers, railcar numbers if known can be included.

The place or country of origin must be determined based on USDA 7 CFR 319.37. The province, state or region should be indicated, as well as the name of the country.

When the product is not in bulk, any identifying words, numbers or a description of a specific mark on a package can be used as a distinguishing mark. Container numbers are not considered to be "distinguishing marks."

One of the words, "sea, air, road, rail, mail, passenger" will be inserted. The name of the carrier may be included.

This should be the first point of arrival in the country of the final destination, or if not known, the country name (that is, United States). Permits to import or trade documents may indicate a specific port of entry.

Treatments are only entered on the phytosanitary certificate when required by the importing country. The following information should be included as applicable:

• Date – the date that application commenced
• Treatment – basic description of the process involved
• Chemical – active ingredient
• Concentration – the concentration of the chemical
• Duration and temperature – the length of time and temperature during treatment

The following additional declaration appears on the CNCP export label document:

This shipment of plants was produced in accordance with the Canadian Nursery Certification Program and is considered to conform with the phytosanitary import requirements of the United States.

No pest-specific or plant-specific additional declarations are required on the CNCP phytosanitary certificate.

The scientific name, common name, quantity of product and unit of measurement are entered here. If the list of plant material does not fit in the allotted space on the first page, then additional pages must be generated and the box on the first page should refer the reader to the following page(s). Unless there are particular species or variety requirements, the scientific name of any plant material will appear at the genus level. The common name of the product should be kept as short as possible while still identifying the product to the phytosanitary officials of the importing country. Quality, grade, trade names and colour information should not be entered.

The certification manager is a member of the management team of the authorized facility and is vested with the authority and responsibility to develop and implement a phytosanitary management system that meets the requirements of the CNCP. The certification manager may designate qualified personnel or contractors to assist in developing and implementing different components of the phytosanitary management system such as pest management (crop protection manager), record keeping and administration. The certification manager may only designate those tasks to a trained, competent and qualified individual. As a minimum, the certification manager must:

• Be a member of the management team of the facility that is certified or in the process of becoming certified under the program
• Have a thorough understanding of management systems and conducting audits
• Have a thorough understanding of this directive and demonstrate the capability to ensure the requirements described in this directive are met
• Understand the situations that require the CFIA to be notified
• Understand Canadian plant health import, domestic and export regulations and relevant U.S. state and federal import requirements
• Be able to attest to the country of origin of certified plant material
• Be committed to ensuring compliance with this directive by managing the phytosanitary management system at the authorized facility, including the development and implementation of a record management and retention system
• Provide training/mentoring to ensure staff have the knowledge required to complete designated tasks
• Ensure that employees that are designated to carry out particular activities have the qualifications and expertise to perform the required tasks
• Have the ability to evaluate employee performance related to all components of the phytosanitary management system operating in the facility. This includes an annual evaluation of the crop protection manager and any other staff involved in the program. This evaluation should include performance in conducting pest control or eradication activities, knowledge of the program, knowledge of the CNCP manual, familiarity with regulated pest identification, etc. Please note that the responsibility for evaluations of staff other than the crop protection manager may be designated to a qualified individual, however the certification manager must review the crop protection manager's performance.

The crop protection manageris designated to carry out various tasks related to the implementation of the pest management plan at the authorized facility. The tasks that can be designated to the crop protection manager, rather than being performed by the certification manager, depend on the qualifications of that individual. The crop protection manager is an individual employed by or contracted to the authorized facility with the following qualifications:

• Be able to effectively plan and conduct routine examinations of the production areas to verify that all plant material is free from regulated pests and practically free of other injurious pests
• Have the ability to develop and maintain a system of documentation to verify pest freedom treatments conducted within the facility, pest monitoring and product examinations (inspections)
• Have the capacity to plan and implement a verification system to ensure shipments of plants destined for export to the U.S. are free from regulated pests, practically free of all other injurious pests and meet any other U.S. import requirements
• Must have a thorough understanding of the CNCP and demonstrate the capability to carry out the pest management requirements described in this directive
• Have an understanding of Canadian plant health import, domestic and export regulations and U.S. state and federal import requirements.
• Be committed to ensuring compliance with the CNCP by managing the pest management and record retention programs in the facility
• Must ensure that employees conducting pest control or eradication activities have expertise in performing those tasks
• Have experience in pest management and in ensuring pest freedom in plant material
• Have knowledge of common pest organisms (identification, biology and host relationships), including local regulated pests and appropriate control procedures
• Be capable of identifying plant material within the facility and have an understanding of the host plant pest relationship for a broad range of horticulture and forestry pests
• Have experience liaising with local, provincial, federal and/or university/college horticulture and pest management specialists
• Know how to prepare and submit samples of insects and diseases to the CFIA, provincial laboratories, and/or private laboratories
• Possesthe ability to establish procedures ensuring that infested plant material is isolated and treated, and that preventative actions are implemented to minimize future infestations
• Be capable of developing and utilizing procedures to verify whether plant material sourced by the facility are free from pests, and if infested with pests, are effectively treated to remove the infestation
• Must undergo periodic training each year relating to pest management or other aspects of the program
• Posses the ability to train staff that are responsible for conducting routine pest monitoring, pest control or eradication activities within the facility
• Be committed to promptly notify the CFIA of all new, unusual or unidentified pest finds in the facility

Subject to the requirements of this appendix, authorized facilities may obtain phytosanitary certification labels and interfacility stamps from the supplier of their choice. Please contact the CFIA for phytosanitary certification label and interfacility stamp templates. The CFIA seal and the signature of the National Manager, Horticulture Section will be provided with the label template by the CFIA. Standardized label and stamp templates are not available for download within the directive.

At the time of receipt, facilities must verify that phytosanitary certification labels and interfacility stamps meet the specifications found in appendix 2, appendix 4 and appendix 7.

Facilities must maintain a current inventory of phytosanitary certification labels and interfacility stamps through their life cycle.

• Authorized facilities must not manufacture phytosanitary certification labels
• Phytosanitary certification labels must be commercially manufactured
• The authorized facility identification number and the unique sequential serial numbers must be pre-printed on the phytosanitary certification labels
• Additional label orders must immediately follow the serial number of the previous order to ensure sequential numbering
• Each phytosanitary certification label has a unique serial number. If duplicate phytosanitary certificate labels are required (for example, for entrance into California) the duplicate label must be pre-printed with a "Duplicate – Duplicata" watermark
• Phytosanitary certification labels should be used in sequential order. Variation may be accepted by prior arrangement with CFIA
• Spoiled labels and unused duplicate copies must be maintained for verification until the CFIA indicates they may be disposed of and concurs with the manner of disposal

For each batch of phytosanitary certificate labels ordered and received, facility records must include:

• Manufacturer
• Date of receipt
• Range of serial numbers received
• Verification that the order meets the specifications here and in Appendix 2

• Paper: white, permanent adhesive label
• Size: 15.2 cm wide by 10.2 cm high (6 inches wide by 4 inches high), no bleed
• Ink type: permanent. Labels that smear are considered noncompliant
• Ink colour: 100% Black (or C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=100%)
• Font: 12 point bold, Helvetica or Arial (for the authorization number, serial number, name and address of authorized facility/exporter)
• CFIA Seal: black ink on white background

Facilities found to be using phytosanitary certification labels that do not meet the specifications of this section will be assessed a non-conformance and the non-conforming phytosanitary certification labels must be surrendered to the CFIA or disposed of with the concurrence of the CFIA. Non-conforming phytosanitary certification labels may encounter issues when entering the USA.

• Authorized facilities may not manufacture interfacility stamps
• Interfacility stamps must be commercially manufactured
• Worn out stamps must be maintained for verification until the CFIA indicates they may be disposed of and concurs with the manner of disposal

For each interfacility stamp ordered and received, facility records must include:

• Manufacturer
• Date of receipt
• Verification that the order meets the specifications found in Appendix 4 and 7
• Date and manner of disposal for each retired interfacility stamp

• Stamps may be self-inking or may be used with a stamp pad.
• Size: sufficient size such that text is legible
• Ink type: permanent
• Ink colour: any colour
• Font for the authorization number: 12 point bold, Helvetica or Arial

Facilities found to be using interfacility stamps that do not meet the specifications of this section will be assessed a non-conformance and the non-conforming interfacility stamps must be surrendered to the CFIA or disposed of with the concurrence of CFIA.

Corrective action request and observation report number:

Facility name:

Facility number:

Certification manager name:

Auditor name:

Non-conformance

• Critical:
  • Yes
  • No
• Major:
  • Yes
  • No
• Minor:
  • Yes
  • No
• Observation:
  • Yes
  • No
• Description of the non-conformance:
• Signature of auditor:
• Date Issued:

Corrective action

• Description of corrective action:
• Facility representative:
• Date for completion:
• Corrective action acceptable:
  • Yes
  • No
• Corrective action completed
  • Yes
  • No

Additional comments

• Description of additional comments:
• Signature of auditor:
• Date:

A critical non-conformance is any single finding that reveals that the integrity of the program is jeopardized. The facility must be immediately suspended from the program until remedial action has been taken to the satisfaction of the CFIA.

The following list provides examples of critical non-conformances. This list is not exhaustive.

• Detection of pests of quarantine significance for Canada or the U.S. on plant material that has been shipped by the authorized facility
• Failure to properly identify an organism as a regulated pest in the nursery, or seek competent assistance with the identification
• Failure to undertake required laboratory tests or analyses
• Failure to carry out control measures at the facility for pests of quarantine significance for Canada or the U.S.
• Failure to notify the CFIA of the presence of regulated pests at the facility, or on product in transit to or from the facility
• Failure to observe U.S., state or provincial plant health requirements
• Export of ineligible plant taxa, or plants not meeting USDA-APHIS requirements
• Failure to list the scientific name of all the plants on CNCP certification documents
• Failure of facility staff to keep consistent, accurate pest management records, as specified in the CNCP manual
• Failure to keep consistent, accurate records of country of origin
• Failure to implement corrective action(s)
• Failure to follow treatment actions ordered by the certification manager or the CFIA
• Failure to perform internal audits as required
• Failure to provide sufficient evidence that plant materials obtained from external sources meets the requirements for incoming plant material as described in the facility's CNCP manual
• Failure to maintain the security of CNCP phytosanitary certification labels and interfacility stamp
• Failure to use the CNCP phytosanitary certification labels and interfacility stamp as described in this directive
• Operating without a certification manager or crop protection manager or not meeting the required qualifications
• Failure to have a pest management plan in place that satisfies the requirements of the program
• Failure to obtain approval from the CFIA for modifications made to the CNCP manual and/or implementing changes to the phytosanitary management system
• Failure to examine incoming plant material prior to moving it into shipping/production area
• Failure to have systems in place to fulfill the requirements of the program and to verify compliance
• Failure to have sufficient, adequately trained staff in place to meet the requirements of the program
• Two or more major non-conformances are detected at an authorized facility during a single audit

A major non-conformance is any single isolated incident of non-conformance that has no direct impact on the integrity of the product provided that corrective actions are completed within the time frame specified by a CFIA lead auditor, which shall not exceed two weeks. Should the facility fail to complete the corrective action in the specified time frame, the non-conformance becomes a critical non-conformance and the facility will be suspended from the program. If more than two major non-conformances are detected during a single audit, the non-conformance is considered a critical non-conformance and the facility will be suspended from the program. The following list provides examples of major non-conformances and is not exhaustive.

• Failure to notify the CFIA when the certification manager changes
• Failure to have a designated backup for the certification manager and the crop protection manager
• Failure to maintain complete reports of final examination of plant material
• Failure to keep nursery stock that has been examined for export separate from other plant material that has not been examined
• Failure to notify the CFIA of a change in sources of direct sales stock or propagative stock
• Failure to undertake corrective actions ordered by the certification manager in a timely manner
• Failure to provide staff and contractors access to documents as specified in section 8.1.6
• Failure to prevent build up of non-regulated plant pest populations
• Failure to observe good facility management practices with respect to sanitation
• Failure to maintain records as specified in CNCP manual
• Failure to use the interfacility stamp as outlined in this directive
• Failure to properly identify non-certified nursery stock with an asterisk (*) on invoices stamped with an interfacility stamp
• Use of CNCP phytosanitary certification labels for domestic shipments to other authorized facilities
• Failure of the certification manager and crop protection manager to obtain additional relevant training each year
• Failure to maintain training records for staff involved in implementing the program
• Failure to maintain an up-to-date list of all employees involved in implementing the program
• Failure to examine plant material prior to export
• Failure to consistently sign and date reports or records
• Three (3) or more minor non-conformances are detected at an authorized facility during a single audit

Minor non-conformances are those that do not immediately or significantly affect the status of the product or the integrity of the CNCP phytosanitary certificate, but could lead to a major non-conformance if not addressed. The authorized facility must take remedial action before the next audit, or within the time frame provided by the CFIA lead auditor. If more than three minor non-conformances are detected during the inspection, the classification of the non-conformance is changed to a major (for example, five minor non-conformances are equal to one major non-conformance and one minor non-conformance, whereas eight minor non-conformances are equal to two major non-conformances and results in suspension of the facility).

The following list provides examples of minor non-conformances and is not exhaustive.

• Failure to notify the CFIA of changes to plant product lists
• Failure to adequately separate stock infested with non-regulated plant pests from other stock
• Failure to effectively dispose of products contaminated by non-regulated plant pests
• Failure to detect low level populations of non-regulated pests
• Failure to inform the CFIA of any changes to business practices as outlined in the CNCP manual

• Description of all sources for new plant material such as: propagation, other authorized facilities and non-authorized nurseries/brokers/wholesalers/contract growers
• A copy of the instructions provided to a Domestic Phytosanitary Certification Program source facility (if applicable)
• A copy of agreements between the CFIA and any contract growers describing the roles and responsibilities of each and outlining any specific requirements of the authorized facility
• Identification of the country of origin for each source of new plant material
• Description of measures in place to ensure that documentation is maintained to support the country of origin of nursery stock from each source
• Description of a record keeping system that verifies that all plant material certified under the program meets
  • the phytosanitary requirements outlined in section 5.1 of this directive
  • the eligible plant taxa requirements outlined in section 5.2 of this directive
  • the certification requirements outlined in section 5.3 of this directive
• Description of measures in place to ensure that sourced plant material is free from regulated and non-regulated quaratine pests and that the risk of introducing and transmitting plant pests is mitigated

• Description of procedures for maintaining product identity within the facility from receiving to shipping
• Description of procedures for tracing product forward and backward from the authorized facility
• Description of measures in place to maintain strict control over the use of the interfacility stamp and the phytosanitary certification labels
• Specific work instructions for processing customer orders that result in the issuance of a CNCP Phytosanitary certification label, or use of the interfacility stamp
• Description of who has care and control of the interfacility stamp and phytosanitary certification labels and how each is used and tracked
• Description of record keeping practices for serial numbers of all phytosanitary certification labels in stock, as well as those that are used for shipments
• Description of procedures used to ensure that copies of all CNCP phytosanitary certificates are kept
• Description of record keeping practices used to record all shipments stamped with the interfacility stamp including country of origin, destination, genera, species, variety/cultivar and volume of plants certified under the program using the interfacility stamp
• Description of procedures used to ensure that ineligible material is marked with an asterisk (*) on invoices

• Description of the procedures in place to ensure that:
  • non-conforming product is not certified under the program and does not contaminate other products
  • facility staff immediately notifies the certification manager of any products found not to conform to the requirements of this directive
  • the CFIA is notified immediately of any product that is contaminated, or suspected to be contaminated, with a regulated pest
• Specific work instructions for handling and/or disposing of plant material that is contaminated with pests
• Description of the procedures used to maintain detailed records of all non-conformances, corrective actions, audits and follow-up examinations to verify compliance with this directive

• Description of the procedures in place to ensure that one internal system audit and four internal surveillance audits are conducted per year and that an audit report is prepared within two weeks of performing each audit
• Description of how internal audits will be conducted and by whom
• Copies of the formats of internal audit reports and checklists
• Copies of corrective action requests and observation reports generated by the facility

• Description of the procedures in place to ensure that:
  • corrective action requests are generated for each non-conformance that is detected by the authorized facility
  • non-conformances are classified as critical, major, or minor
  • corrective actions are completed in a timely fashion
  • the CFIA is notified immediately regarding the presence, or suspected presence, of any critical non-conformance in the facility or on product purchased or sold by the facility
• Description of the procedures in place to prevent recurrences of non-conformances, including amendments to the CNCP manual
• Description of how observations will be reported and used to improve the CNCP manual or phytosanitary management system

• Develop forms that can be used to describe and verify the implementation of the phytosanitary management system
• Describe procedures for ensuring that records that pertain to product identity and trace back
• trace forward of certified plant material are maintained and retrievable for seven (7) years. Other records that are required by the program must be maintained for a minimum to three (3) years
• Develop a system for maintaining records that are sufficient to track the country of origin of all plant material, the content and destination of all shipments and accounts for all CNCP phytosanitary certification labels and all shipments stamped by an interfacility stamp
• Describe the procedures for maintaining the following documents, reports and records:
  • internal audit reports and records including the non-conformances identified and the corrective or preventative actions taken
  • copies of all CFIA audit reports
  • lists of all suppliers of plant material indicating country of origin
  • records that substantiate the country of origin of all certified plant material
  • domestic-origin plant material: records that document the source of all nursery stock purchased within Canada and that substantiate the certified status of the plant material
  • importation documentation: copies of invoices indicating the source, type, quantity and dates of importation, and evidence of CFIA National Import Service Center (NISC) release (if not provided, please contact your local CFIA office)
• export invoices, order requests for phytosanitary certification labels, requests for phytosanitary certification and copies of the phytosanitary certificates and phytosanitary certification labels issued. The records must list all nursery stock exported under the program.
  • copies of all CNCP phytosanitary certificates
  • copies of all invoices stamped with the interfacility stamp and records of all plant material shipped under the program to other nurseries or brokers in Canada
• A system for maintaining training records
• Procedures to ensure that the most up-to-date versions of the following reference documents are readily available to individuals involved in implementing the program:
  • Plant Protection Act and Regulations
  • APHIS Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements – Plants for Planting and Propagation
  • APHIS Plants for Planting manual
  • CFIA and USDA-APHIS regulated pest lists
  • Copies of this directive
  • Copies of the facility's CNCP manual
  • Specific phytosanitary requirements of states and provinces (if relevant)

• List of plants shipped by the facility that have specific export requirements and a description of those requirements
• A copy of any post entry quarantine (PEQ) modules (if applicable)
• List of regulated plant pests and a description of any additional requirements that the facility must address
• Copy of any pest or plant specific modules (if applicable)
• Description of how the authorized facility will ensure that all pest and plant specific requirements are met prior to shipping including:
  • how the requirements of any additional pest or plant specific directives that apply to the authorized facility, or products produced by the authorized facility, are being met
  • additional plant material examination and/or testing for plant material that has specific quarantine pest considerations
  • any treatments, cultural practices or other measures in place to ensure that the product meets all the phytosanitary requirements to certify the product
  • a list of the names and qualifications of any laboratories used for testing
  • a description of any applicable foreign import requirements, and how they will be met, for shipping samples to laboratories outside of Canada
• Specific work instructions to describe best management practices at the nursery

• Maps of the authorized facility labelled to identify the receiving, production, handling and shipping areas, and any areas that are referred to in the pest management records
• Documents indicating the flow of plant material through the facility

• Description of the measures in place at the authorized facility to ensure that all nursery stock entering is free of pests regulated by Canada and the U.S., practically free of other injurious pests, and that the risk of introducing and transmitting plant pests is mitigated
• Description of procedures to ensure that new plant material remains physically separated from other plant material at the authorized facility until an examination of the material is completed and the material is found free of plant pests
• Description of procedures to be followed if pests are found
• Description of the records to be kept, including: the date, person carrying out the examination, any pests, damage and/or symptoms found and any corrective actions taken
• Specific work instructions for inspecting incoming plant material

• Description of the methods, frequency and intensity used to examine all plant material in the facility
• Description of the records to be kept, including: the date, person carrying out the examination, any pests, damage or symptoms found, pest levels, where they are found (type of plants affected, location in facility), treatments required, and any corrective actions taken

• Description of the methods used to examine plants in the shipping areas where shipments are being prepared to prevent pest contamination and to ensure that the phytosanitary standard is being met
• Specific work instructions describing the methods used to examine plant material at the time of shipping
• Description of the procedures in place to ensure that product that has been inspected and verified free of pests has been kept separate from non-verified materials
• Description of the handling, storage and delivery procedures in place to ensure that product that has been examined and verified free of pests is not contaminated by pests prior to its receipt by the consignee
• Description of the records to be kept, including: the date, person carrying out the examination, any pests, damage or symptoms found, where they are found (type of plants affected, location in facility) and any corrective actions taken

• Description of procedures to be followed if any regulated or non-regulated pests are found including the procedures for ensuring that the certification manager and the CFIA are notified immediately of any pest finds of significance
• Description of the records to be kept, including: a pest log for recording pest finds, damage and symptoms, identifications and submissions to laboratories, etc. The pest log must include the date the pest was detected, who detected it and where (what plants and where in the facility), pest identification, who made the identification, notes on damage and/or symptoms, pest levels, whether control measures are required, and an evaluation of the efficacy of any control measures applied, including date and signature

• Description of all pest control strategies used to maintain freedom from pests and practical freedom from other injurious pests
• Description of the records to be kept, including: a treatment log to record any treatments applied, a description of the treatment, date of application, name of applicator, location, reason for treatment, evaluation of treatment efficacy, etc.

• List of the criteria for determining whether plant material meets the requirements of this directive
• Description of procedures that will ensure expedient control, or eradication of non-regulated pests discovered during examinations or audits
• Description of procedures that will ensure effective treatment or disposal of products that are contaminated by regulated or non-regulated plant pests

• Description of the procedures for maintaining written records that document all import, export and facility examinations and that indicate:
  • the type and quantity of material examined
  • the type and quantity of material intended for export
  • the date of examination
  • the name and signature of the person conducting the examination
  • any pests, damage or symptoms detected
  • the methods used to eradicate/control pests
  • methods used to evaluate the efficacy of any treatments
  • methods used to control any non-conforming product
• Description of the data collected from pest control and surveillance activities, or samples of forms used to record data

The facility has a suitable system in place to ensure that staff involved in implementing the program are aware of all the current phytosanitary requirements (U.S./Canada and state/province) that are relevant to their facility and business

The facility has a suitable system in place to ensure that all nursery stock certified under the program is free from all pests regulated by Canada and the U.S., is practically free from other injurious pests, and complies with any pest- or plant-specific phytosanitary requirements of Canada and/or the U.S.

The facility has suitable systems in place to ensure all plant taxa certified under the CNCP are eligible per Appendix 1. (that is, plant taxa excluded from the program are not shipped under the CNCP)

• The facility has systems in place to ensure that only eligible nursery stock that complies with the requirements described in this section is certified under the program
• The facility has systems in place to ensure that nursery stock that may not be certified under the program is inspected by the CFIA and exported under a traditional CFIA-issued phytosanitary certificate
• Procedures for certifying nursery stock under the program are documented in the CNCP manual and evaluated and approved by the CFIA

• The facility has systems in place to ensure that all shipments certified under the CNCP are accompanied by the appropriate, complete documentation
• The facility has a record management system in place to ensure origin and trade documents are kept for seven years
• The facility has systems in place to ensure that CNCP phytosanitary certification labels and interfacility stamp are used appropriately for shipments that are exported and those that are shipped domestically

The facility has systems in place to ensure that all CNCP phytosanitary certification labels are used and accounted for as described

• The facility has systems in place to ensure that interfacility stamps are used, controlled and accounted for as described
• The facility has systems in place to ensure that all invoices stamped with an interfacility stamp that include plant material that cannot be certified under the program, clearly identify the non-certified material on the invoice with an asterisk (*)

The facility has taken steps to ensure that all plant species traded internationally comply with the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The facility has a system in place to address any non-conformances in the time period specified by the CFIA

The facility has a system in place to continually improve their phytosanitary management system and CNCP manual

The facility has a system in place to ensure that there are sufficient capable staff in place to successfully fulfill the requirements of the program

• Facility management is committed to ensuring the procedures described in the CNCP manual are implemented and effective
• The management of the facility has appointed a qualified certification manager and crop protection manager meeting the requirements outlined in Appendix 6 of the CNCP
• The facility has sufficient capable, trained staff employed to implement the program

• The certification manager has the authority and responsibility for the development, implementation and maintenance of the Phytosanitary Management System at the facility
• The certification manager has developed and implemented a record management and retention system that is effective
• The facility has designated a qualified alternate capable of replacing the certification manager, or has a contingency plan in place in the event of their absence

• The crop protection manager has developed and implemented an effective pest management plan
• The facility has designated a qualified alternate capable of replacing the crop protection manager, or has a contingency plan in place in the event of their absence

• The facility has developed a CNCP manual that meets the requirements of the program. The procedures described in the CNCP manual are implemented and the authorized facility has systems in place to verify compliance with it.
• The facility has systems in place to verify its compliance with the procedures described in its CNCP manual and regularly reviews and updates its CNCP manual

• The facility has a phytosanitary management system in place that is used to direct and control the facility with regard to consistently meeting all of the requirements of the program
• The phytosanitary management system includes procedures relating to sourcing plant material, maintaining product identity, shipping certified material, controlling non-conforming product, conducting internal audits, generating CARs, improving and maintaining the phytosanitary management system and the CNCP manual, administrative systems and detailed records to verify compliance with the program

The facility has a system in place to document the country of origin of nursery stock and to maintain records verifying that plant materials certified under the program meet the requirements outlined in sections 5.2 and 5.3

• The facility has suitable systems in place to maintain product identity within the facility from receiving to shipping
• The facility has suitable systems in place for tracing product forward and backward from the authorized facility
• The facility has suitable systems in place to control and document the use of phytosanitary certification labels and interfacility stamps

• The facility has a suitable system in place to document non-conformances, corrective actions, audits and follow-ups
• The facility has a system in place to ensure that the certification manager and the CFIA are notified of pest finds and non-conforming product, as required by this directive

The facility has an audit plan in place to ensure that internal systems and surveillance audits are performed as required

The facility has a system in place to ensure that CARs are generated for each non-conformance detected and to verify that CARs are addressed in a timely fashion. The facility also has a system in place to ensure that the CFIA is immediately notified of critical non-conformances

• The facility has a record-keeping system in place that ensures appropriate records are kept and maintained as specified in this directive
• The facility has a system in place to ensure that facility staff and contractors have ready access to all documents and reference materials required by the program

• The facility has developed and implemented a pest management plan that meets the requirements of the program
• The facility has a suitable system in place to implement and verify the implementation of the pest management plan

• The facility has a suitable system in place to ensure that its certification manager, crop protection manager, etc. are aware of the current phytosanitary requirements for all plant materials it certifies under the program and has a system to verify that these requirements are met
• The facility's CNCP manual includes descriptions of how any additional pest-specific or plant-specific requirements are being met

The facility has a system in place to verify that plant material flows through the facility as described, and to ensure that the map is updated as necessary

The facility has a suitable system in place to ensure that incoming plant material is kept segregated until it has been examined by designated staff at the facility

The facility has a suitable system in place to ensure that production areas are examined as outlined in the CNCP manual

• The facility has established adequate handling, storage and delivery procedures
• The facility has systems in place to ensure that product that has been examined and found free of pests is kept separate from non-verified material

The facility has a suitable system in place to ensure that all pest finds are entered into a pest log and that the CFIA is notified immediately of any pest finds of significance

The facility has a suitable system in place to ensure that pest control measures are applied to maintain freedom from regulated pests and practical freedom from other injurious pests and to ensure that these strategies are documented

The facility has systems in place to identify non-conforming products and to mitigate the risk of contamination of other products. The facility must have systems to ensure that non-conforming product is not shipped and that CFIA is notified per program requirement.

The facility has systems in place to maintain records to verify the implementation of the pest management plan, including details of all examinations, pest finds and corrective actions for three years

Staff involved in implementing the CNCP have ready access to all the current phytosanitary requirements that are relevant to their facility and business

• All plant material certified by the facility under the program meets all the specific requirements.
• The authorized facility can provide evidence of country of origin of plant material to verify that eligibility requirements are met.

All plant material to be shipped under the CNCP is free from all pests regulated by Canada and the U.S., practically free from non-regulated pests, and complies with any pest- or plant-specific phytosanitary requirements of the CFIA and/or the USDA-APHIS

• Staff involved in implementing the CNCP know which plant taxa are ineligible for certification under the program.
• Records verifying that only eligible materials are shipped under the program are readily available.

• All eligible nursery stock of Canadian or US origin falls into one of the specified categories
• All plant material from countries other than Canada or the U.S. certified under the program falls into one of the specified categories
• Plant material that does not meet the requirements of the program, but does meet U.S. import requirements is exported under a traditional CFIA-issued phytosanitary certificate
• Records are readily available to verify that nursery stock certified under the program complies with the procedures as described in the CNCP manual

• Records are maintained to account for all labels and stamps. Only authorized staff members have access to the labels and stamps
• Certification documents that accompany CNCP shipments include the scientific names of all plants included in the consignment

• CNCP phytosanitary certification labels are used only for export of eligible plants
• Complete and accurate paperwork is prepared for all shipments that are exported under the program
• Copies of all CNCP phytosanitary certificates are kept as part of the facility records

Domestic shipment documentation is stamped appropriately. The interfacility stamp is only used for export ready material, taxa that cannot be certified under the CNCP is clearly identified with asterisks (*) on the invoices.

• The management of the authorized facility has appointed a qualified certification manager and crop protection manager meeting the requirements outlined in Appendix 6
• A qualified alternate has been designated for each position, or a contingency plan is in place in the event of their absence

• The certification manager ensures that the phytosanitary management system is implemented effectively and in accordance with the CNCP manual
• The certification manager ensures that appropriate documentation and records are kept to verify compliance of the phytosanitary management system with the CNCP manual
• The certification manager ensures that the persons designated to carry out particular components of the phytosanitary management system are qualified to do so

• The crop protection manager has effectively implemented the pest management plan described in the CNCP manual
• The crop protection manager has demonstrated responsibility for pest monitoring, pest control, disposal of contaminated plant material and maintenance of detailed records related to the pest management plan

• The CNCP manual accurately describes the procedures implemented by the facility. An amendment sheet has been used to track all changes to the CNCP manual
• The CFIA has been contacted regarding any modifications to the CNCP manual. Changes have not been implemented until accepted by the CFIA

The CNCP manual describes the phytosanitary management system that is implemented at the authorized facility

• All sources for new or incoming plant material are described in the CNCP manual. The CFIA has been notified of any changes to the sources of plant material
• Documentation verifying the country of origin of all plant material certified under the program is maintained for seven years
• The facility takes precautions when sourcing plant material to verify its origin, to ensure that it is free from pests of regulatory concern, and to mitigate the risk of introducing and spreading plant pests
• The facility has records to verify the eligibility of the material certified under the program and are kept for seven years

• Product identity is maintained by the authorized facility from receiving to shipping
• All CNCP phytosanitary certification labels can be accounted for. Copies of all CNCP phytosanitary certificates are kept for seven years
• Records are kept of all invoices that are stamped with an interfacility stamp

• All non-conforming product will be identified and handled in a manner that ensures they are not shipped under the CNCP, and that the product will not contaminate, or become mixed with product grown/shipped under the program
• All non-conformances are documented including corrective action requests and follow up actions
• The facility has immediately notified the CFIA of product that is contaminated, or suspected to be contaminated, by regulated pests

• At least one systems audit and four surveillance audits are conducted each year. At least one of the surveillance audits is conducted during the growing season and one is conducted during the shipping season.
• Auditors do not audit their own work
• Detailed reports are prepared within two weeks of each internal audit

• A corrective action request is generated for each non-conformance. Non-conformances are correctly classified as critical, major or minor.
• Each corrective action request includes detailed instructions to prevent recurrence. The CNCP manual is amended as necessary and after consultation with the CFIA.
• The certification manager immediately notifies the CFIA of any critical non-conformances or suspected critical non-conformances

• Persons with designated responsibilities under the CNCP have access to current versions of the following:
  • Plant Protection Act and Regulations
  • APHIS Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) – Plants for Planting and Propagation
  • CFIA and USDA-APHIS regulated pest lists
  • this directive
  • the authorized facility's CNCP manual
• Records pertaining to product identity, trace back and forward information for certified plant material are maintained for seven years

A pest management plan has been developed and outlined in the CNCP manual

All treatments, cultural practices, testing and other measures that are required for specific pest and plant taxa are implemented as outlined in the pest management plan

The pest management plan includes a map of the facility indicating the flow of plant material from receiving to shipping. The map is accurate and updated as required.

• Measures outlined in the CNCP manual to ensure that all nursery stock entering the facility is free from pests of concern are effectively implemented
• New plant material is physically separated from other plant material and is not integrated into the production system until it has been examined
• The facility has records verifying that incoming plant material is examined by designated persons
• Corrective actions are taken when required and recorded

• All plant material and all production areas are examined by the crop protection manager or by designated persons according to the methods, frequency and intensity specified in the pest management plan
• All examinations of production areas are documented
• Corrective actions are taken when required and recorded

• Shipping areas are inspected by the crop protection manager or by designated persons during the preparation of shipments, as specified in the pest management plan
• Each shipment of certified plant material is examined for pests at the time of shipping
• All examinations of shipping areas and shipments is documented
• Product that is inspected by the authorized facility is kept separate from non-inspected material, and steps are taken to ensure that inspected material is not contaminated by pests prior to receipt by the consignee
• Corrective actions are taken when required and recorded

• A pest log is used to record pest finds, identifications and laboratory submissions
• The CFIA is notified immediately of any pest finds of significance

Pest control strategies are implemented according to the pest management plan. Culled plants are treated or disposed of in a manner that mitigates the risk of contamination of other plants or the environment

Records pertaining to all pest management plan practices are maintained for three years