D-24-01: Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) – Domestic and import phytosanitary requirements

This directive was part of a consultation from August 29, 2024, to October 25, 2024

This directive describes the phytosanitary import requirements for nursery stock and logs of deciduous species with bark from regulated areas of the continental United States (U.S.) to prevent the introduction of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) into Canada. This directive also outlines the domestic requirements for these same articles moving from regulated to non-regulated areas in Canada to prevent the spread of this pest to non-infested areas.

At the time of writing this directive, spotted lanternfly is not known to occur in Canada. However, due to its close proximity to the Canadian border and the volume of trade and traffic with infested areas of the United States, import and domestic requirements have been included in this directive in anticipation of arrival and establishment.

On this page

• 1. Legislative authority
• 2. Definitions, abbreviations and acronyms
• 3. Introduction
• 4. Scope
  • 4.1 Regulated pest
  • 4.2 Regulated articles
  • 4.3 Regulated articles exempt from CFIA documentation requirements
  • 4.4 Regulated articles with specific phytosanitary documentation requirements that may also need to be part of the SLF program
  • 4.5 Regulated areas
• 5. Specific phytosanitary documentation requirements
  • 5.1 Logs of deciduous species with bark attached
  • 5.2 Nursery stock
• 6. Spotted lanternfly program
• 7. CFIA oversight and inspection procedures
• 8. Non-compliance
• 9. References
  • 9.1 Fees
  • 9.2 Supporting links
• Appendix 1: Regulated areas
• Appendix 2: Approved methods of treatment for logs of deciduous species with bark
• Appendix 3: Application for the spotted lanternfly program
• Appendix 4: Phytosanitary requirements for approved Canadian facilities receiving logs of deciduous species with bark from regulated areas
• Appendix 5: Phytosanitary requirements for facilities participating in the spotted lanternfly program to move nursery stock out of regulated areas in Canada

1. 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. 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 or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA's) Plant Health Glossary of Terms.

The term "import permit" indicates a permit to import plants and other things under the Plant Protection Act.

Additional terms specific to the purpose of this directive are defined below for the benefit of the reader:

• Deciduous: For the purpose of this directive "deciduous" includes Acer, Betula, Fagus, Populus, Quercus, Salix and all other non-coniferous species.
• Nursery stock: For the purpose of this directive "nursery stock" is defined as any propagative woody plant material, both rooted and unrooted.
• Preventive control plan: a combination of control measures that, when taken as a whole, provide for a science-based approach to managing risks posed by hazards and contribute to achieving compliance with regulatory requirements.

3. Introduction

The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive pest which is native to China, India, Taiwan, and Vietnam. It has been steadily expanding its range in the eastern and north-eastern United States (U.S.) since its initial detection in Pennsylvania in 2014 and was detected close to the Canadian border in Buffalo, NY and Pontiac, MI in the fall of 2022.

Spotted lanternfly is a large, visually distinctive planthopper which can feed on a wide variety of hosts, such as tree-of-heaven, grapevines, maple, walnut, and other hardwood tree species. Given its wide host range, it is predicted to be a major pest for Canada's grape and wine industry with the potential to negatively impact the nursery, fruit tree and forestry sectors.

Spotted lanternfly is a pest of plants and spends the majority of its time on plant material, mainly the trunks of trees. It can, therefore, be introduced to Canada through various pathways, including the movement of plant commodities such as nursery stock and deciduous species of logs with bark. In addition to woody plant material, SLF may lay eggs on almost anything ranging from natural objects such as stone to manufactured objects of any kind including conveyances, shipping containers and household goods. Due to the proximity of the pest and the numerous possible pathways of entry, the risk of introduction to Canada is considered very high. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has implemented phytosanitary measures on nursery stock and logs of deciduous species with bark to mitigate the risk of its entry and spread in Canada and continues to focus on outreach strategies to raise awareness of pest identification and mitigation strategies with importers, the transportation sector and the general public.

4. Scope

4.1 Regulated pest

Lycorma delicatula (White)
Common name: spotted lanternfly

4.2 Regulated articles

All things moving (imported or moved domestically) from a regulated area to an unregulated area must be free from all life stages of spotted lanternfly prior to being moved. This includes, but is not limited to, the items listed below:

• Nursery stock (woody trees and shrubs)
• Christmas trees
• Logs with bark attached
• Bark
• Debarked wood products (which carry less than 2% surface bark on average, with no single unit of wood having more than 5% surface bark)
• Kiln dried wood products
• Commercially processed wood products
• Branches and wreaths, with or without foliage, fresh or dried
• Firewood, (must also meet the requirements of D-01-12)
• Outdoor household articles
• Military vehicles and equipment
• Recreational, personal and commercial vehicles and equipment

4.3 Regulated articles exempt from CFIA documentation requirements

All things moving out of a regulated area to an unregulated area must be free from all life stages of spotted lanternfly prior to being moved. The regulated articles listed below may be imported or moved domestically without additional spotted lanternfly specific CFIA documentation.

• Christmas trees
• Kiln dried wood products
• Logs of coniferous species with bark
• Bark
• Debarked wood products (which carry less than 2% surface bark on average, with no single unit of wood having more than 5% surface bark)
• Commercially processed wood products
• Wreaths, with or without foliage, fresh or dried
• Decorative branches
• Outdoor household articles
• Military vehicles and equipment
• Recreational, personal and commercial vehicles and equipment

4.4 Regulated articles with specific phytosanitary documentation requirements that may also need to be part of the spotted lanternfly program

• Nursery stock (woody trees and shrubs)
• Logs of deciduous species with bark attached

4.5 Regulated areas

Areas of the U.S. and Canada regulated for spotted lanternfly as listed in Appendix 1.

5. Specific phytosanitary documentation requirements

The following sections provide a summary of import and domestic movement requirements, related to spotted lanternfly, for logs of deciduous species with bark and nursery stock.

Where a permit to import (CFIA/ACIA form 5256) is required, applications need to be submitted to the CFIA Permit Office identified on the application for permit to import, prior to importation. The issuance of a permit to import may be contingent upon approval of the facility by the CFIA and compliance of the facility with the terms and conditions of this directive.

All articles regulated for spotted lanternfly are subject to CFIA inspection.

5.1 Logs of deciduous species with bark attached

Import requirements from the U.S.

This spotted lanternfly directive applies to logs of deciduous species with bark, entering Canada. There may be additional requirements for specific species. Please use the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) to determine the import requirements which must be met or contact a local CFIA office for additional information.

Domestic requirements

All logs of deciduous species with bark in areas of Canada regulated for spotted lanternfly must be accompanied by a movement certificate issued by a CFIA inspector before moving into non-regulated areas of Canada.

All establishments located in areas of Canada which are not regulated for spotted lanternfly and wishing to obtain logs of deciduous species with bark, from regulated areas of Canada, must be approved for participation in the spotted lanternfly program by completing and having agreed to the conditions stipulated on the application form for the spotted lanternfly program.

5.2 Nursery stock

Import requirements from the continental U.S.

A phytosanitary certificate is required when nursery stock from the continental U.S. is imported into all areas of Canada.

One of the following additional declarations must appear on the phytosanitary certificate:

1. "The plants in this shipment have been officially inspected and found to be free from spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula."

   OR

2. "The plants in this shipment have been produced exclusively in facilities or areas officially recognized by USDA-APHIS as free from spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula."

   OR

3. "The plants in this shipment have been exclusively grown and stored in an enclosed structure which excludes spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula."

There may be additional requirements for nursery stock entering Canada. Please use the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) to determine the import requirements which must be met or contact a local CFIA office for additional information.

Domestic requirements

6. Spotted lanternfly program

Participation in the spotted lanternfly program requires the development of a preventive control plan. A preventative control plan describes a systems-based approach developed by regulated parties that focuses on prevention as a way to achieve compliance.

For details on the requirements and preventative control plan elements to be included for deciduous logs with bark see Appendix 4 and for nursery stock see Appendix 5.

For more information on preventative control plans, please refer to the Integrated Agency Inspection Model.

Once the plan has been developed, it is to be submitted along with the application form in Appendix 3 to your local CFIA office. The plan will be reviewed and approved by the CFIA, and an inspection of the facility will be conducted to determine the ability of the facility to follow the written procedures.

The preventative control plan should be reviewed on an ongoing basis by the facility staff to ensure that the procedures and processes effectively address the risk associated with spotted lanternfly. If major changes affecting the delivery of the program are made, the plan must be re-approved by the CFIA.

A preventative control plan will be implemented and managed through inspection of regulated articles by the regulated party and oversight by CFIA inspection staff.

Domestic movement of regulated articles with specific phytosanitary requirements outside of a regulated area in Canada will be permitted only in writing under the authority of a CFIA inspector. The movement will be authorized through the issuance of a movement certificate.

7. CFIA oversight and inspection procedures

All regulated articles are subject to CFIA inspection following import or prior to domestic movement within Canada. The purpose of the CFIA inspection is to verify freedom from spotted lanternfly and to facilitate the issuance of required certification (for example: movement certificates for domestic movement).

Oversight of the SLF program will include CFIA Inspection of approved facilities at a minimum of twice annually. During the facility inspection the CFIA inspector shall confirm the compliance of the facility through visual inspection, interviews with staff, and examination of records.

For further information on the inspection process, please contact your local CFIA office.

8. Non-compliance

Regulated articles are subject to inspection by the CFIA and, for imports, must meet all requirements when they arrive at their first point of entry into Canada and, domestically, prior to leaving a regulated area in Canada.

Non-compliant articles
Those in care or control of a non-compliant article may be required to destroy or remove the consignment from Canada (for imported articles) or to return to a regulated area in Canada (for domestically sourced articles). Non-compliant articles may require treatment prior to destruction or removal from Canada or return to a regulated area.

Non-compliant facilities
Facilities found to be in non-compliance with their preventative control plan or import conditions may be suspended or removed from the program, have valid movement certificates revoked or have their import permit revoked.

The party in care and control of non-compliant articles is responsible for all costs relating to treatment, disposal or, removal of the articles from Canada or return to a regulated area, including costs incurred by the CFIA to monitor the action taken.

Violations of this directive, the Plant Protection Act or Plant Protection Regulations may be subject to compliance and enforcement actions, including monetary penalties. The CFIA will follow the guiding principles in its Compliance and Enforcement Policy when informing regulated parties, assessing and monitoring compliance and responding to instances of non-compliance.

The CFIA will advise the national plant protection organization of the country of origin or re-exporting country of non-compliance as per directive D-01-06: Canadian phytosanitary policy for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action, as appropriate.

9. References

9.1 Fees

The CFIA charges fees in accordance with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice. For information regarding fees, please contact your local CFIA office or visit the CFIA's Fees Notice page.

9.2 Supporting links

• Spotted lanternfly Lycorma delicatula) - Fact sheet
• RMD–22-03: Pest Risk Management Decision Document: Risk management for spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula White)
• D-04-01: Canadian Nursery Certification Program
• D-16-02: Administration of the United States – Canada Greenhouse-Grown Plant Certification Program
• D-01-06: Canadian phytosanitary policy for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action

Appendix 1: Regulated areas in the United States

For deciduous logs with bark, the areas of the United States regulated for spotted lanternfly include:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia

Appendix 2: Approved methods of treatment for logs of deciduous species with bark

Fumigation

The material must be fumigated with methyl bromide at normal atmospheric pressure, the following rate.

Heat treatment

The material must be heat treated to attain a minimum core temperature of 56°C for 30 minutes. For imported material, the heat treatment process must be verified by the USDA, in accordance with the USDA-ALSC Heat Treatment Program for Export.

Appendix 3: Application for the spotted lanternfly program

Submit the completed application form along with a copy of the preventive control plan to your local CFIA office.

Download the Application form for the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) program (PDF 99 kb).

Form description

Applicant information:

• Facility name:
• Primary contact (individual responsible for the preventative control plan):
• Address:
• Telephone:
• Email address:

Description of regulated articles:

Planned movement activities (indicate all that apply):

• Domestic movement outside of a regulated area
  • Yes
  • No
• Import of logs with bark of deciduous species from the U.S., under CFIA permit:
  • Yes
  • No
• Other (please describe):

The applicant agrees to adhere to all conditions outlined in the preventive control plan developed for the facility to meet the requirements of the spotted lanternfly program

• Applicant's signature of acceptance:
  • Date:
• CFIA inspector/officer signature of approval:
  • Date:

Appendix 4: Phytosanitary requirements for approved Canadian facilities receiving logs of deciduous species with bark from regulated areas

Program requirements

• The facility must have a preventative control plan. The processing facility and the plan must be approved by the CFIA. The preventative control plan must be implemented prior to receiving logs of deciduous species with bark from regulated areas
• The facility will designate one primary contact who will be the individual responsible for the preventative control plan and will be responsible for:
  • ensuring that the plan is complied with
  • ensuring that the designated staff are adequately trained to carry out their tasks related to the spotted lanternfly program
  • obtaining CFIA's approval before implementing any major changes to the plan affecting the delivery of the program
  • serving as the designated contact point for the CFIA for the SLF program
• For imported logs, a permit to import is required. Phytosanitary certification at origin is not required for the import of regulated logs to the approved facility.
• The logs covered by the preventative control plan must be transported directly from the point of entry into Canada (or the regulated area in Canada) to the approved facility. No diversion of logs to any other site is permitted without the prior written approval of a CFIA inspector.
• Logs received from regulated areas, must be monitored for signs and symptoms of SLF. A visual monitoring procedure must be submitted by the facility and trained staff must conduct visual inspections at reception, during the scaling of logs and until the logs are processed. Note: If visual monitoring cannot be conducted, all logs received from regulated areas must be processed or debarked within 48 hours of receipt.
• The CFIA must be immediately notified if any signs of SLF are found. Non-compliant regulated articles must be treated, returned to origin, or disposed of as soon as possible within a maximum of 48 hours of their detection.
• All logs of deciduous species with bark received from regulated areas must be processed or debarked
• All bark residues resulting from debarking at the approved facility must be disposed of in a manner approved by the CFIA. A CFIA issued movement certificate must accompany any consignment to a disposal / treatment facility.
• Logs and timber waste must not be used or sold for firewood without treatment, as per directive D-01-12: Phytosanitary requirements for the importation and domestic movement of firewood.
• The approved facility must carry out a spotted lanternfly surveillance program of the facility. The surveillance program is composed of 2 distinct surveys of the site. One should be conducted between December 1st and April 30 to target the egg masses and the other one between August 1st and October 31st to target the adult life stages.
• All receiving and shipping records, and other documents pertaining to logs received from regulated areas must be maintained by the facility for a period of two years from the date of receipt and must be provided to a CFIA inspector upon request.
• The approved facility must meet all the requirements as outlined in this directive.

Elements of a preventive control plan

A processing facility must submit a preventative control plan for review and approval by the CFIA, prior to receiving log of deciduous species with bark from areas regulated for spotted lanternfly. The plan is to be submitted with the application form for the spotted lanternfly program. A list of local CFIA offices is available.

The preventative control plan should be reviewed on an ongoing basis by the facility staff to ensure that the procedures and processes effectively address the risk associated with SLF. It must be re-approved by the CFIA if the facility wants to change it.

Each facility will need to determine the elements that need to be included in its preventative control plan. The following elements should be considered during its development:

Appendix 5: Phytosanitary requirements for facilities participating in the spotted lanternfly program to move nursery stock out of regulated areas in Canada

Facilities participating in the Canadian Nursery Certification Program or the United States – Canada Greenhouse-Grown Certification Program may implement a CFIA accepted pest module for SLF in lieu of participation in the SLF program. The pest module must include spotted lanternfly risk mitigation measures that meet or exceed the requirements described below.

Program requirements

• The facility must develop, implement, and maintain a preventive control plan. Each facility will determine the elements that need to be included in a preventative control plan. The plan must be reviewed and accepted by the CFIA prior to the movement of nursery stock to a non-regulated area of Canada.
• The facility will designate one primary contact who will be the individual responsible for the plan and will be responsible for:
  • ensuring that the preventative control plan is adhered to
  • ensuring that the designated staff are adequately trained to carry out their tasks related to the spotted lanternfly program
  • obtaining CFIA's approval before implementing any major changes to the plan affecting the delivery of the program
  • serving as the designated contact point for the CFIA for the SLF program
• Designated staff are trained to inspect for and identify signs of all SLF life stages
• The general facility area and current nursery stock inventory will be inspected for SLF egg masses at least once between December 1 and April 30.
• New nursery stock entering the facility will be inspected for all stages of SLF upon arrival. Inspection will include both the plant material and associated material (pots, burlap, leafy debris, mulch, etc.). Incoming nursery stock received from areas where SLF is established will be kept segregated from the production area until the incoming inspection is completed.
• During the nymphal and adult periods, inventories of nursery stock within the facility will be monitored for all stages of SLF at least once every week.
• If any life stage of SLF is detected within the facility, additional control measures must be implemented before the start or continuation of shipments.
• Pre-shipment inspections of nursery stock must be conducted by trained facility staff prior to moving from the facility to an unregulated area of Canada. Nursery stock must be safeguarded once inspected and ready for shipment.
• Nursery stock moving out of a regulated area must be accompanied by a movement certificate issued by the CFIA.
• During transportation, nursery stock will be safeguarded with a covering adequate to prevent infestation by any SLF stage.
• The facility is responsible for maintaining records of inspection, pest monitoring, pest detections, applied pest controls, receiving and shipping, and training activities performed during each calendar year. These records must be maintained for 2 years and made available to the CFIA upon request.

Elements of a preventive control plan

Facilities participating in the SLF program for nursery stock must develop, implement, and maintain a preventive control plan that includes the following elements, as appropriate.