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

Effective date: October 2, 2025 (February 1, 2026, for importing logs of deciduous species)

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, both import and domestic requirements have been included in this directive in anticipation of arrival and establishment. The domestic requirements outlined in this directive are not currently in effect; they will be implemented once a regulated area is established in Canada.

On this page

1. Legislative authority

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. Example, woody trees, vines and shrubs.
Preventive Control Plan (PCP)
a written document that describes 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 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, plant pots 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. The CFIA 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, vines and shrubs)
  • logs with bark attached
  • outdoor household articles
  • conveyances of any type including commercial, personal and recreational vehicles and equipment
  • ornamental stone or concrete
  • outdoor industrial and construction equipment
  • shipping and storage containers
  • 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 and commercially processed wood products
  • bark, branches and wreaths, with or without foliage, fresh or dried Christmas trees
  • firewood

Note: Requirements for these articles may exist in other directives. Please consult the list of all Plant Health directives or the CFIA's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) for more information.

4.3 Regulated articles with specific phytosanitary documentation requirements that may also need to be part of the SLF program

  • nursery stock (woody trees, vines and shrubs)
  • logs of deciduous species with bark attached

4.4 Regulated areas

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

Note: Spotted lanternfly is not yet known to occur in Canada. There are currently no areas in Canada regulated for SLF.

5. Specific phytosanitary documentation requirements

The following sub-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 is required, requests can be made through the Agency's online service portal, My CFIA. For those without access to My CFIA a completed application (CFIA/ACIA form 5256) needs 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

5.1.1 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.

Table 1: L. delicatula import requirements for deciduous species of logs with bark from the U.S.
U.S. Origin Destination Requirements Additional Declaration or Treatment Requirement
Non-regulated area of the U.S. All of Canada Origin (U.S. state) must be stated on shipping documents n/a
Regulated areas of the U.S. All areas of Canada United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Phytosanitary Certificate or CFIA issued Permit to Import

A phytosanitary certificate which includes the following additional declaration: "The material was inspected and found to be free from spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula."

Or

A phytosanitary certificate indicating in the treatment section that material was treated to kill spotted lanternfly Lycorma delicatula, including treatment details as outlined in Appendix 2.

Or

A Permit to Import allowing importation of deciduous logs with bark from areas infested with SLF

5.1.2 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.

5.2 Nursery stock

5.2.1 Import requirements from the continental U.S.

There may be additional requirements for nursery stock entering Canada. Please use the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) to determine the import requirements. Plants for planting may also be subject to additional requirements under other directives, or as specified on the Permit to Import (if required). The requirements described in this section are specific to Lycorma delicatula.

Table 2: L. delicatula import requirements for nursery stock from the continental U.S.
U.S. Origin Destination Requirements Additional Declaration
Continental U.S. All areas of Canada Phytosanitary Certificate Table Note a.

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."

5.2.2 Domestic requirements

Table 3: L. delicatula domestic requirements for nursery stock
Origin Destination Requirements
Regulated area
(Appendix 1)		 Non-regulated area

CFIA-issued Movement Certificate based on one of the following options:

  1. The material is inspected by CFIA and found free from spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula.

    or

  2. The material is produced exclusively in a CFIA-approved screenhouse or alternate enclosed structure that excludes spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula Table Note a.

    or

  3. The material has been produced and maintained under a CFIA-accepted systems approach for spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula Table Note b.
Non-regulated area Within Canada No requirements

6. Non-compliance

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

The party in care and control of non-compliant articles is responsible for all costs relating to treatment, disposal, 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 (NPPO) 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.

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 PCP or Import Conditions may require corrective action, may be suspended or removed from the program, have valid Movement Certificates revoked or have their Import Permit revoked.

7. References

7.1 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 website.

7.2 Supporting links

Appendix 1: Regulated areas

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

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

This list may change at any time based on new information

For nursery stock:
All of the continental United States.

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

The following treatments are approved as an option to meet import requirements with a phytosanitary certificate from the U.S. as outlined in section 5.1.1

1. Fumigation

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

Dosage (g/m³) Duration (hours) Ambient Temperature
48 (3 lbs/1000ft³) 4 16°C (60°F)
64 (4 lbs/1000ft³) 4 4.5 to 15.5°C (40 to 59°F)

Or

2. 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: Spotted lanternfly program (for a facility not participating in GCP, CNCP or CNCI Clean Plants)

Note: Facilities participating in the Canadian Nursery Certification Program (CNCP), the United States – Canada Greenhouse-Grown Certification Program (GCP) or the Canadian Nursery Certification Institute (CNCI) Clean Plants 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.

Audit Frequency

Note that an on-site assessment is required for facilities that are on CNCI Clean Plants Program and for facilities enrolled in the SLF Program. The inspector must verify that the facility has effectively implemented the pest module or the PCP. This requirement is in addition to the twice yearly onsite preventive control inspections, which verify that the elements of the PCP/pest module are being met. For facilities on CNCP or GCP, on-site assessment and preventive control inspections are conducted as part of the onsite audit frequencies of the program.

Preventive Control Plan: development, amendments, and verification

A facility not already on a systems approach program for SLF must develop, implement and maintain a preventive control plan (PCP). A PCP describes a systems-based approach implemented by a facility that focuses on prevention as a way to achieve compliance. For more information on the PCP process, refer to the Integrated Agency Inspection Model.

Once the PCP has been developed, it must be submitted along with the application in Appendix 4 to the local CFIA office. The CFIA will review the PCP and inspect the facility to confirm the ability of the facility to follow the written procedures. Additional actions by the facility may be required by local CFIA office before the plan is accepted by the CFIA.

The PCP should be reviewed on an ongoing basis (minimum annually) by the facility staff to ensure that the procedures and processes effectively address the risk associated with spotted lanternfly. If changes affecting the delivery of the program are made, the PCP must be reviewed and accepted by the CFIA.

The facility must have a designated primary contact who serves as the designated contact point to the CFIA for the SLF program and is the individual responsible for ensuring that the PCP is adhered to. A PCP will be implemented and verified through inspection of regulated articles by the regulated party and oversight by CFIA. For all facilities operating under a PCP, the CFIA will review the PCP and conduct an onsite preventative control inspection at least twice annually to confirm that the elements of the PCP can be met, with minimum one inspection occurring during the active period of the pest. 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.

Domestic movement

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 (MC).

PCP elements

Facilities moving nursery stock out of an SLF regulated area must develop, implement, and maintain a preventive control plan (PCP) that includes the following elements:

Criteria What the PCP must include

Incoming inputs
Element 1.1a of Integrated Agency Inspection Model

The PCP describes specific handling procedures and how pest introductions are prevented including:

  • Description of methods for handling incoming materials, including pest detection methods and identification and/or segregation of material that is awaiting inspection by trained staff.
  • 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, etc.).
  • Incoming nursery stock received from areas where SLF is established will be kept segregated from the production area until the incoming inspection for presence of all life stages of SLF is completed.

Finished product
Element 1.2 (Product Controls)

The PCP describes how end product is evaluated for compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, and how the risk of introduction/spread of SLF is mitigated including:

  • Description of procedures to ensure that regulated articles (refer to section 4.2) meet the requirements in D-24-01.
  • Procedures and the shipping/outbound inspection for all life stages of SLF are described to verify that regulated articles are inspected by trained staff and are free from SLF prior to shipping out of the regulated area and safeguarded to prevent infestation.
  • The CFIA must be notified immediately when there is the presence, or suspected presence of SLF in a shipment requiring certification or within the pest exclusion barrier in a SLF regulated area. The plants must be safeguarded; shipping ceases until remedial measures are implemented.
  • The facility has a statement or process indicating that a copy of the CFIA issued domestic movement certificate will accompany each shipment of nursery stock moving out of a regulated area

Pest control
Element 2.2

The PCP describes a program for prevention, control and removal of pests, and a schedule for monitoring for evidence of signs of pest activity, including:

  • Description of the inspection to detect signs and symptoms of all life stages of SLF and documented inspection report.
  • Process to monitor the general facility area and current nursery stock inventory for SLF egg masses at least once between December 1 and April 30.
  • Biweekly (every 2 weeks) inspection of outdoor-grown nursery stock, production areas for signs of SLF, including egg masses, nymphs and adults (May 1 to November 30) and monitoring is recorded and available for review by the CFIA.
  • Weekly inspection for SLF within shipping areas/staging areas (May 1 to November 30)
  • The scouting program for SLF considers the life cycle of the pest as well as the type of production system, crop growth stage, host preference, climate and production practices.
  • Description of remedial measures that must be followed when SLF is detected in finished product. Remedial measures may include insecticide treatments.

Employee training
Element 3.2

The PCP includes:

  • Description of training provided to designated staff responsible for inspecting/monitoring, identifying and detecting all SLF life stages or indirect evidence of pest presence (for example, damage symptoms such as weeping bark, sooty mould) at receiving, through production, and at shipping.
  • Pest biology resources for SLF are used in the training and are available to designated personnel, pest information includes: morphology of various life stages, evidence of pest presence, scouting techniques and other information to aid in early detection of SLF. Emphasis is placed on scouting for all life stages of SLF
  • Description of procedure for training, including frequency, how training is documented and maintained, location of list of trained personnel and pest biology resources for SLF, person responsible for maintaining the list is identified
  • The primary contact (individual responsible for the PCP)

Premises and surroundings
Element 5.1

The PCP includes:

  • Description of how inspections of premises and surroundings are conducted
  • Description of scouting of production zone perimeter or other practices that minimize the risk of introduction or movement of SLF
  • Map of facility must be included that illustrates the farm locations and specific blocks where host plants will be produced that require certification as well as identifying the border areas.

Receiving, transportation and storage
Element 6.1

The PCP describes:

  • During transportation, nursery stock is shipped in sealed (closed) vehicles or safeguarded with a covering adequate to prevent infestation by SLF during the nymph and adult life stage (if being shipped from or through areas where SLF is established)
  • Safeguarding-protection of crop once inspected and ready for shipment
  • Cross-docking of inbound and outbound plants (having uncertified, uninspected received plants adjacent to plants ready for shipping) is avoided.

Traceability and control
Element 7.1

The following records must be maintained to support the implementation of the preventive controls described in the plan. These include, but are not limited to, records for:

  • Training
  • Pest monitoring, pest detections, scouting reports
  • Treatments applied
  • Receiving/incoming and shipping/outgoing records of inspection specific to SLF
  • Receiving and shipping records in order to facilitate trace back/trace forward
  • Pest exclusion barrier records (maintenance), if applicable
  • Facility records are maintained for at least 3 years. A list of records maintained by the facility must be detailed in the PCP.

Appendix 4: Application for the spotted lanternfly program

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

Applicant information

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

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
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