Notice to industry – new compliance measures for facilities moving LDD moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) host nursery stock outside of a regulated area
March 19, 2021
Who this affects
This notice is of interest to Canadian facilities that intend to move nursery stock considered to be a host of the LDD moth (Lymantria dispar dispar), from regulated areas to non-regulated areas in both Canada and the United States.
Specifically, this notice pertains to facilities that:
- are located in an area regulated for Lymantria dispar dispar or
- are under regulatory control following a detection of Lymantria dispar dispar outside of a regulated area
What has changed
Effective March 22, 2021, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is increasing inspection, monitoring and reporting requirements to help prevent the spread of Lymantria dispar dispar.
Any facility that is located in an area regulated for Lymantria dispar dispar will be required to complete and submit an Interim compliance agreement (CA) for the movement of Lymantria dispar dispar regulated nursery stock from regulated areas to non-regulated areas. A preventive control plan (PCP) may also be developed and submitted provided it contains all of the elements of the CA.
Any facility which is under regulatory control following a detection of Lymantria dispar dispar outside of a regulated area must submit a PCP. The PCP must include:
- all of the elements of the CA and
- any additional control measures the facility will implement, appropriate to the level of infestation
Send completed CAs or PCPs to your local CFIA office as soon as possible to avoid delays in moving material.
Alternatives
Other risk mitigation measures may be evaluated and accepted on a case by case basis. Examples include an appropriate treatment program or a Canadian Nursery Certification Program (CNCP) module.
Please contact your local CFIA office to discuss options in advance of any planned movement of regulated nursery stock.
Next steps
- Once submitted, a CFIA inspector will review the interim CA or PCP.
- Revisions may be required before the interim CA or PCP is approved.
- After approval, an on-site verification by a CFIA inspector may be required.
Context
The LDD moth is a regulated pest in Canada. It is present in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, as well as southern and eastern Ontario. Schedule I of the Plant Protection Regulations prohibits the movement of any material infested with this pest.
Nursery host material for Lymantria dispar dispar includes all woody trees and shrubs. Egg masses may also be found in protected areas on almost any surface, including tree bark, containers, and burlap.
The population and infestation levels of this pest are expected to be high in the coming years because there was an especially large outbreak of the Lymantria dispar dispar in Ontario in 2020. In 2020 the CFIA also received reports of host material infested with Lymantria dispar dispar moving to non-regulated areas of Canada and the United States.
Further information
The CFIA is currently reviewing and updating the requirements for Lymantria dispar dispar host nursery stock in preparation for a consultation by summer 2021. Some of the proposed program requirements include mandatory pest monitoring and management for facilities that are in areas regulated for Lymantria dispar dispar and that move material outside of the regulated area.
For any questions related to these measures, please contact your local CFIA office.
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