Implementation of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Policy Directive D-11-01: Phytosanitary Requirements for Plants for Planting and Fresh Branches to Prevent the Entry and Spread of Anoplophora spp.

OTTAWA, November 22, 2011: Canadian importers of plants for planting and of fresh branches will have until December 22, 2011 to prepare for new Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) policy directive requirements that will affect 90 different genera of plants entering Canada from 41 countries. This includes China, the European Union and areas of the United States.

The purpose of the new policy directive (D-11-01) is to prevent the introduction of Anoplophora spp. into Canada. The Anoplophora species, which includes the the Asian long-horned beetle and the citrus long-horned beetle, are wood-boring, long-horned beetles native to China, Japan, Korea and other countries in Asia. These beetles are very serious and damaging pests that have the potential to severely impact Canadian plant resources.

This directive outlines phytosanitary requirements for imports to Canada, for plants for planting and for fresh branches that are considered hosts of Anoplophora spp. Host species include birch (Betula spp.), poplar (Populus spp.), maple (Acer spp.) and roses (Rosa spp.).

Both the citrus long-horned beetle and the Asian long-horned beetle are considered serious quarantine pests by several countries, including members of the European Union, the United States and Canada.

Canada added Anoplophora spp. to the regulated pest list in 2000. In 2002, the CFIA adopted requirements as per International Standards on Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15, to prevent the introduction of Anoplophora spp. through the wood packaging pathway.

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canada's plant resource base by preventing the introduction and spread of invasive plant pests, which can seriously harm Canada's environment, forests and agricultural resources.

For more information on policy directive D-11-01 (2011), please visit www.inspection.gc.ca or contact

Rosa Aiello
Horticulture Specialist, Horticulture Division
613-773-7197

Additional information:

• D-11-01: Phytosanitary Requirements for Plants for Planting and Fresh Branches to Prevent the Entry and Spread of Anoplophora spp.
• Pests regulated by Canada