Effective July 24, 2026, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will introduce new import restrictions on the import of Rosa spp (rose) plants for planting and propagative material to prevent the introduction of Ralstonia solanacearum (synonyms: R. solanacearum race 3 biovar 2; R. solanacearum phylotype II).
Propagative rose material from Australia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Republic of Korea must be produced in an officially recognized Pest Free Place of Production (PFPP) or Pest Free Production Site (PFPS) in accordance with ISPM No. 10. The material must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with the following additional declaration:
The plants in this consignment were produced in a Pest Free Place of Production (PFPP) or Pest Free Production Site (PFPS) for Ralstonia solanacearum (race 3 biovar 2). The consignment has been tested and found to be free of Rs R3bv2.
Rose plants from the continental United States can be imported into Canada with a phytosanitary certificate with the following additional declaration:
The Rosa spp. plants for planting are considered as being from Canada or the United States, and Ralstonia solanacearum (race 3 biovar 2) is not known to occur in the United States.
Rosa spp. plants for planting may also be shipped under the United States-Canada Greenhouse-Grown Plant Certification Program (GCP) and the Canadian Nursery Certification Program (CNCP). The requirement for a pest module for Rs R3bv2 is currently under review. Pending a final determination, the implementation of a pest module is not required.
The CFIA regulates Ralstonia solanacearum as a quarantine pest. Research published in the European Journal of Plant Pathology confirms that Rosa spp (roses) are asymptomatic hosts of R. solanacearum, meaning the bacterium can survive and multiply within rose plants without visible symptoms. This discovery raises significant concerns, as roses could act as reservoirs for R. solanacearum and facilitate spread undetected. R. solanacearum is known as a major potato pathogen, where it causes brown rot and is of great concern for other hosts such as tomatoes and Pelargonium spp. (geraniums). As a result, propagative rose material poses as a high-risk pathway for the introduction of R. solanacearum into Canada, including:
- unrooted cuttings
- rooted plants
- in-vitro
- budwood
This change to Canada's import requirements for rose plants aligns with the new Import Federal Order posted by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS).
These coordinated phytosanitary actions aim to protect Canadian agriculture and horticulture resources while maintaining safe trade of roses between Canada and the United States.
Horticulture Section
Canadian Food Inspection Agency