Subject

Establishments involved with the exportation of non-propagative material containing niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seed, such as bird food, are subject to procedures which ensure compliance with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) import requirements. This directive describes the requirements by which facilities could be approved to export niger seed products to the United States (US) and outlines the compliance agreement and the conditions that facilitate export for niger seed from Canada to the US.

This revision was made to update the list of heat-treatment facilities approved by the USDA (Table 1 in Appendix 1).

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Table of Contents

Review
Endorsement
Amendment Record
Distribution
Introduction
Scope
References
Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

1.0 General Requirements
1.1 Legislative Authority
1.2 Fees
1.3 Regulated Pests
1.4 Regulated Commodities
1.5 Commodities Exempt

2.0 Specific Requirements
2.1 Export Requirements
2.1.1 Niger seed that is repackaged and/or blended in Canada
2.1.2 Niger seed in original packaging
2.2 Non-Compliance

3.0 Appendix
Appendix 1: Compliance Agreement

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Review

This directive will be reviewed every 2 years unless otherwise needed. The next review date for this directive is June 5, 2010. The contact for this directive is Joanne Rousson. For further information or clarification, please contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Endorsement

Approved by:

Amendment Record

Amendments to this directive will be dated and distributed as outlined in the distribution below.

Distribution

1. Directive mail list (Regions, PHRA, USDA)
2. Provincial Government, Industry (via Regions)
3. National Industry Organizations (determined by Author)
4. Internet

Introduction

Phytosanitary import requirements for niger seed (Guizotia abyssinica) differ between the United States (US) and Canada. Under the Plant Protection Act, no commodity can be exported unless it complies with the requirements of the importing country. Therefore, Canadian niger seed products exported to the US must meet the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) import requirements.

The USDA has raised concerns with potential co-mingling of devitalized seed from USDA approved heat-treatment facilities and non-devitalized niger seed that may have entered Canada. To address these concerns, a compliance agreement program for exports of niger seed products from Canada to the US has been developed.

To facilitate the export of niger seed and products containing niger seed for non-propagative uses (such as bird food) from Canada to the US, a compliance agreement between the exporting facility and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is required. This agreement is designed to verify that niger seed exported from Canada to the US is:

• imported to Canada via a USDA approved heat treatment facility (see list in Table 1 of Appendix 1)
• maintained as such in segregation throughout the repackaging process
• sent directly from the exporter to the United States accompanied with a copy of the applicable original heat treatment certificate.

A compliance agreement of this type satisfies the phytosanitary import requirements of the USDA.

Scope

The information in this directive is intended for inspectors and program officers of the CFIA, the Canada Border Services Agency and companies or facilities that export niger seed to the US.

References

D-98-06 (1st Revision): Interim Import Requirements of Parasitic Plants: Cuscuta, Striga, and Orobanche spp.
ISPM No. 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms: FAO, Rome. (updated annually)
USDA/APHIS Canadian Border Agricultural Clearance Manual 04/2006-37
USDA/APHIS Plant Import: Nonpropagative Volume of Manuals - Seed Not For Planting

Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

Definitions for terms used in the present document can be found in the Plant Health Glossary of Terms at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/glosterme.shtml.

1.0 General Requirements

1.1 Legislative Authority

Plant Protection Act, S.C. 1990, c. 22
Plant Protection Regulations, SOR/95-212
Seeds Act R.S. 1985, c.S-8
Seeds Regulations C.R.C., c. 1400
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice, Canada Gazette, Part 1 (05/13/2000)

1.2 Fees

The CFIA is charging fees in accordance with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice. The Canadian niger seed exporters must bear all costs associated with delivering on the conditions established in the Compliance Agreement. For information regarding fees, please contact the Import Service Centres (ISC) at the following phone numbers: Eastern ISC 1-877-493-0468; Central ISC 1-800-835-4486; Western ISC 1-888-732-6222. Anyone requiring other information regarding fees may contact any local CFIA office or visit our Fees Notice website.

1.3 Regulated Pests

Noxious weeds such as Cuscuta spp.

1.4 Regulated Commodities

All pure and blended products containing niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seed
Synonyms: nyger, nyjer

1.5 Commodities Exempt

See section 2.1.2

2.0 Specific Requirements

2.1 Export Requirements

2.1.1 Niger seed that is repackaged and/or blended in Canada

To be eligible to export niger seed products to the US, a facility must be approved by the CFIA under a compliance agreement (Appendix 1) and must:

• apply to participate and enter into the compliance agreement by contacting the local CFIA office
• demonstrate that the niger seed imported into Canada was devitalized at one of the USDA approved heat treatment facilities (see Table 1 in Appendix 1)
• be able to demonstrate that the niger seed imported from a USDA approved heat treatment facility does not become contaminated en route to the exporting facility
• demonstrate how it prevents the export of non-compliant niger seed or products containing niger seed to the US
• demonstrate that each devitalized niger seed lot certified through a USDA approved heat treatment facility is segregated from niger seed that has not been treated in a USDA approved heat treatment facility
• prevent co-mingling of seed lots to facilitate accurate trace-back
• clean storage bins prior to and after use to avoid contaminating niger seed from a USDA approved heat treatment facility with niger seed from another source
• maintain records for each shipment of niger seed. The records will include, (where applicable), country of origin, USDA approved heat treatment facility lot number, date of arrival, quantity of material imported, shipment transit seal number, bin number processing or blending procedures, lot number of finished product
• maintain a document tracking process to show traceability of seed lots from a USDA approved heat treatment facility through to the final exported product
• provide a copy of the appropriate heat treatment certificate issued by a USDA approved facility to accompany every export shipment
• retain a representative sample from each lot imported into Canada for one year as a reference sample. When required, a CFIA inspector will submit the samples to a CFIA laboratory to verify that the seed has been effectively devitalized
• ensure that the lot number of the finished product is clearly visible on the final package in order to facilitate trace-back

The facility will be inspected annually to ensure that the conditions stated in the compliance agreement are met. The CFIA program officer or inspector is responsible for evaluating facility application, inspecting and auditing facilities, approving compliance documents, issuing the compliance agreement approval letter and for testing of retained samples as required.

A signed copy of the compliance agreement and the approval letter will be sent to the National Manager, Grains and Field Crops section in Ottawa or to the Network Specialist who will forward it to the USDA in order to have the facility listed as an authorized exporter in the USDA/APHIS Canadian Border Agricultural Clearance Manual.

2.1.2 Niger seed in original packaging

A niger seed product that was imported into Canada from the US through USDA approved heat treatment facilities in Maryland or New Jersey (Table 1, Appendix 1) and is maintained in its original, unopened packaging is exempt from the compliance agreement requirements and may be sent back to the US as "US returned goods".

2.2 Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with the conditions set out in this agreement will result in the revocation of a facility's compliance agreement by the CFIA. The USDA will be notified of such facilities.

3.0 Appendix

Appendix 1 - Compliance Agreement

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Appendix 1

Compliance Agreement Between Canadian Facilities Exporting Niger Seed to the United States and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Establishments involved with the exportation of non-propagative material containing niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seed, namely bird food to the US, are subject to procedures which ensure compliance with USDA import requirements. This agreement is designed to verify that such niger seed was imported into Canada via a USDA approved heat treatment facility (see Table 1), maintained in segregation throughout the repackaging process and sent directly from the exporter to the United States accompanied with a copy of the original heat treatment certificate(s).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will verify that a facility meets the compliance standards based on the following criteria:

1. The exporting facility will be inspected on an annual basis by a CFIA inspector.
2. An exporting facility must show traceability of seed shipments from the USDA approved heat treatment facility through to the final exportation. The exporting facility must maintain records (i.e. inventory management and documentation) for each shipment of niger seed. The facility must demonstrate that each certified devitalized seed lot from a USDA approved heat treatment facility is segregated from seed that has not been treated in a USDA approved heat treatment facility.
3. Storage bins must be cleaned prior to and after each use to ensure that no seed of unknown provenance can contaminate the USDA approved heat treated shipments.
4. Seed lots must not be co-mingled.
5. A representative sample will be taken from each imported seed lot by a CFIA inspector or responsible representative of the exporting facility, and retained for one year as a reference sample. A CFIA inspector will monitor the samples, as required, to verify that the seed has been effectively devitalized.
6. A copy of the applicable heat treatment certificate(s) from a USDA approved facility must accompany every export shipment.

Compliance Agreement: Niger Seed and Products Containing Niger Seed for Export into the United States from Canada

1. Name of responsible representative of exporting facility
2. Name and address of exporting (processing) facility (also provide address of administration office, if different from facility address.
3. Telephone number, fax number and e-mail of responsible representative of exporting facility

I am and shall be responsible for and shall indemnify and save harmless Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Her Officers, Servants, Employees, Successors and Assigns, from and against all manners of actions, causes of action, claims, demands, loss, costs, damages, actions or other proceedings by whomsoever made, sustained, brought or prosecuted in any manner based upon, caused by, arising out of, attributable to or with respect to any failure, inadvertent or otherwise, by act or omission, to fully comply with the said conditions and requirements.

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Signature of Responsible Exporter
(or Representative)

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Title

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Date

 

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Inspector Signature

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Date

 

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Regional Program Officer Signature

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Date