RMD-12-06: The addition of plant taxa to Canada's list of plants for planting that are not authorized for importation pending completion of a pest risk analysis

Date of entry into force: July 29, 2013

Preface

This Risk Management Document (RMD) records the consultation process for the identified issue. It is consistent with the principles, terminology and guidelines provided in the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards.

1.0 Purpose

This RMD provides background information on Canada's import requirements for plants for planting and informs of the addition of 122 plant taxa to Canada's list of plants that are not authorized for importation pending the completion of a pest risk analysis.

Information pertaining to current import requirements for specific plants or plant products may be obtained from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Automated Import Reference System.

2.0 Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

Definitions for terms used in this document can be found in the Plant Health Glossary of Terms or the IPPC Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms.

3.0 Background

Policy directive D 08 04: Plant Protection Import Requirements for Plants and Plant Parts for Planting describes Canada's general import requirements for plants for planting from all countries to prevent the entry and spread of regulated plant pests. Under D 08 04, the CFIA has established a category of plants that are Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis (NAPPRA). The NAPPRA category is used to allow the CFIA to take action in a timely manner when new scientific evidence indicates that a plant may be a pathway for the dissemination of a pest of quarantine concern to Canada.

If a plant is on the NAPPRA list, or is added to the NAPPRA list, then a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) must be conducted before the plant can be imported. This is to determine if the plant will be prohibited or authorized for import with restrictions, if deemed necessary, to mitigate the risk of introducing a pest of quarantine concern. When new pest information becomes available for a plant taxa that has been previously imported into Canada, the CFIA may change the categorization of the taxa from authorized to either prohibited or NAPPRA.

A list of plant material that has already been classified as NAPPRA can be found in Appendix 2 of D 08 04.

In May of 2011, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) notified their intent to establish a similar NAPPRA category in their regulations, and on July 26, 2011, the USDA published a proposed list of plants for planting from certain countries that would be added to their NAPPRA list as they are deemed by the USDA to be potential quarantine pests (weeds), or potential hosts of quarantine pests. The proposed United States (U.S.) NAPPRA list includes many plant taxa that are important to both Canada's greenhouse and nursery industries, and to Canada's natural environment, which may lead to a significant risk of negative impacts if any pests of quarantine concern for these taxa were to be introduced into Canada.

In order to mitigate the risk of negative pest impacts on Canada's greenhouse and nursery industries and to Canada's natural environment, the CFIA is taking an approach that considers the pest risk identified in the U.S. NAPPRA data sheets. Canada will add each of the taxa outlined in Appendix 1 of this RMD to the Canadian NAPPRA list for the origin(s) identified. Additional updates may be made in the future.

The addition of taxa to the Canadian NAPPRA list was decided following a World Trade Organization (WTO) notification and comment process which occurred in 2012.

4.0 Considerations

Countries with current Canadian trade of plant taxa listed in Appendix 1 have not been included on the NAPPRA list. Therefore, importers can continue to import the plant taxa from sources that have already been assessed/approved by the CFIA.

Adding a plant taxon to Canada's NAPPRA list prevents the importation of these taxa, which directly mitigates the risk of introducing potentially harmful pests into Canada's greenhouse and nursery environments. Importation of plant taxa from new sources may be permitted after the CFIA has evaluated the phytosanitary risks associated with the pathway through PRA and established phytosanitary import requirements, if necessary, to mitigate the risk.

For taxa imported into Canada from countries that are on the U.S. NAPPRA list, these plant taxa will no longer be eligible for export to the U.S. from Canada. Plants which do not meet U.S. import requirements at the time of entry into Canada will not be considered as Canadian origin, and can never be exported or re exported to the U.S., including their progeny.

5.0 Risk Management Decision

The CFIA considered stakeholder comments, scientific data, as well as environmental and trade impacts prior to finalizing the updates to Canada's NAPPRA list.

6.0 Stakeholder Communications

A notification to stakeholders and trading partners with the updated D 08 04 Appendix 2 will be distributed via the CFIA ListServe, through a WTO notification process, and will be posted on the CFIA's website.

7.0 References

ISPM No. 5, Glossary of phytosanitary terms, Rome, FAO (updated annually)

ISPM No. 2, Framework for pest risk analysis, 2007, Rome, FAO

ISPM No. 11, Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks and living modified organisms, 2004, Rome, FAO

D 08 04: Plant Protection Import Requirements for Plant and Plant Parts for Planting: Preventing the entry and spread of regulated plant pests associated with the plants for planting pathway, CFIA

D 11 01: Phytosanitary Requirements for Plants for Planting and Fresh Branches to Prevent the Entry and Spread of Anoplophora spp., CFIA

U.S. NAPPRA list (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/Q37/nappra/index.shtml) [July 24, 2012]

8.0 Endorsement

Approved by:

Chief Plant Health Officer

Signature of the Chief Plant Health Officer is required only on completion of the pest risk management process, to indicate approval of the final decision. This section is included in the RMD after stakeholder consultation has occurred and a final decision is made.

Appendix 1