December 8, 2021 (updated May 15, 2024)
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has received some questions from industry about the process for vessels that arrive in Canada during the Canadian high-risk period (March to September) without an flighted spongy moth complex (FSMC) certificate if port or boarding restrictions were to impact availability of inspection and certification services in FSMC regulated areas. The following information aims to clarify the requirements:
- During the FSMC high-risk period for Canada (March to September), all uncertified vessels will be directed to an offshore anchorage location for inspection by the CFIA
- To avoid diversion upon arrival, vessels must obtain FSMC certification
- The FSMC certificate must be issued from at least the last port of call in a regulated area that was visited during the specified risk period for the regulated area or anytime afterwards, prior to entering Canadian waters
- Inspection and certification for FSMC can be requested year-round from any of the recognized sources of FSMC certification (please see Appendix 4 of D-95-03: Plant protection policy for marine vessels arriving in Canada from areas regulated for FSMC)
- For vessels that have called on FSMC-regulated ports with restrictions that affect availability of inspection and certification services (for example, COVID-19), it may be possible to arrange for FSMC inspection and certification in a port that does not have such restrictions
- If a vessel is subsequently calling on any port in any of the regulated areas prior to arriving in Canada, FSMC inspection and certification can be requested; including China south of the area regulated for FSMC; this includes bunkering locations
- If a vessel is subsequently calling on a port outside of the FSMC regulated area, FSMC inspection and certification may be arranged through a branch office of some of the Japanese inspection and certification bodies that provide service outside of the regulated area
- Alternatively, if a vessel is subsequently calling on a port outside of the FSMC regulated area and in an area that does not have a branch office of a recognized inspection body, FSMC inspection and certification may be arranged through one of the Japanese or Korean inspection and certification bodies that provide remote FSMC inspection services
- A vessel that arrives in Canada without the required FSMC certification may be subject to additional enforcement action including, but not limited, to an administrative monetary penalty (AMP) notice of violation
- If a vessel operator believes there were circumstances that prevented them from obtaining FSMC certification this should be provided to the CFIA for review
For further information please contact: CFIA-IAS_ACIA-EEE@inspection.gc.ca