D- 95-11: Export requirements for cut Christmas trees to Mexico

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 2, 2007
(3^rd Revision)

CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0Y9
(Tel.: 613-225-2342; Fax: 613-773-7204)

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Subject

This directive describes phytosanitary certification requirements for the shipment of Canadian Christmas trees to Mexico.

This directive has been revised due to the expansion of areas within Canada regulated for pests of quarantine significance to Mexico.

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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 Authorities
  • 1.2 Fees
  • 1.3 Regulated Pests
  • 1.4 Regulated Articles
  • 1.5 Regulated Areas
    • 1.5.1 Areas in Canada regulated for gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar)
    • 1.5.2 Areas in Canada regulated for pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda)
• 2.0 Specific Requirements
  • 2.1 Export Requirements
    • 2.1.1 For Abies, Picea and Pseudotsuga and all other species except for the species Pinus
    • 2.1.2 For Pinus species
• 3.0 Appendices
• Appendix 1: Gypsy Moth Control Program for Christmas Tree Growers
• Appendix 2: Injurious Pest Tolerance Levels for Christmas Tree Exports to Mexico

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Review

This directive will be reviewed every 5 years. The next review period is August 2, 2012. The contact for this directive is Joanne Rousson. For further information or clarification, please contact the Forestry Section or Forest Pest Emergencies Section.

Endorsement

Approved by:

Director
Plant Health Division

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

In 1994, based on pest risk assessments and plant quarantine principles, Mexico had enacted regulations prohibiting the shipment of all species of Christmas trees from counties in Canada and the United States (US) where gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is known to occur, and prohibiting all pine Christmas trees from counties where pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda) is known to occur.

The Mexican market has opened to accept Christmas trees from Canada after lengthy negotiations between officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Mexican authorities.

CFIA, in consultation with Mexican authorities, the Canadian provinces, and Canadian Christmas tree growers, has developed a certification program to allow the shipment of Christmas trees from fields that meet certain criteria within affected counties.

Scope

This directive outlines the requirements for the export of live cut Christmas trees from Canada to Mexico.

References

D-94-22: Plant protection requirements on pine plants and pine materials to prevent the entry and spread of pine shoot beetle

D-98-09: Comprehensive policy to control the spread of North American gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar in Canada and the United States

ISPM No. 5 "Glossary of phytosanitary terms" FAO, Rome 2007

This directive supercedes D-95-11 (2nd Revision), dated December 12, 1996.

Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

1.0 General Requirements

1.1 Legislative Authority

The Plant Protection Act, S.C. 1990, c. 22
The Plant Protection Regulations, SOR/95-212
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice, Canada Gazette: Part I (as amended from time to time)

1.2 Fees

The CFIA is charging fees in accordance with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice. Anyone requiring other information regarding fees may contact any local CFIA office or visit our Fees Notice Web Site.

1.3 Regulated Pests

With regards to Canadian Christmas trees, Mexico regulates the following quarantine pests: gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana), and pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda).

1.4 Regulated Articles

Christmas trees of all genus including but not limited to: Abies, Picea, Pinus and Pseudotsuga.

1.5 Regulated Areas

1.5.1 Areas in Canada regulated for gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) can be found in:

D-98-09 Comprehensive policy to control the spread of North American gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar in Canada and the United States.

1.5.2 Areas in Canada regulated for pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda) can be found in:

D-94-22 Plant Protection Requirements on Pine Plants and Pine Materials to Prevent the Entry and Spread of Pine Shoot Beetle.

2.0 Specific Requirements

2.1 Export Requirements

2.1.1 For Abies, Picea and Pseudotsuga and all other species except for the species Pinus

2.1.1.1 From non-regulated gypsy moth areas (includes all areas of Canada not listed in section 1.5.1.)

All Christmas trees, except pine Christmas trees, from non-regulated gypsy moth areas will be certified based on general visual inspection by CFIA inspectors for freedom from injurious pests (see Appendix 2 for tolerance levels for specific pests of concern to Mexico)

Phytosanitary Certificates must specify the origin of the Christmas trees, including municipality, county/district and province of origin.

NOTE: All trees must be mechanically shaken by the producer/exporter to remove weeds and live pests.

2.1.1.2 From gypsy moth regulated areas (for areas where gypsy moth is known to occur, refer to Section 1.5.1)

Phytosanitary Certificates will be issued in accordance with one of the following provisions for all Christmas trees except for pinus (pine) Christmas trees or Christmas trees that require fumigation to eradicate gypsy moth, pine shoot beetle or European pine shoot moth as in section 2.1.1.2 c) below.

a) Field Inspection Requirements:

Visual inspection of trees grown in an approved field by a CFIA inspector (see Appendix 1 for procedures for an approved field) by conducting a fall field survey either prior to harvest (during September or October) or during harvest.

The CFIA inspector will visually inspect a representative sample of the trees in a field by walking the entire field in a "W pattern" and will additionally conduct a bias sample by inspecting a larger portion of trees which are at highest risk of being infested with a regulated pest (e.g. trees alongside hedgerows or preferred hosts). When examining the trees, the inspector will look for gypsy moth egg masses and any other injurious pests.

If trees are found infested with gypsy moth the inspector will refuse to issue Phytosanitary Certificates for all trees from the field where the pest was found. In addition, the trees must meet Mexico's tolerance requirements for other injurious pests (Appendix 2).

It is the grower's or shipper's responsibility, under the supervision of the inspector, to maintain the identity of those trees that have qualified for export (i.e., tagging of trees, segregation from other trees, etc.).

NOTE: Mexico requires all Christmas trees certified from areas infested with gypsy moth to be inspected by a Mexican inspector in addition to being inspected by a CFIA inspector.

NOTE: All trees must be mechanically shaken by the producer/exporter to remove weeds and live pests.

OR

b) Pre-shipment Inspection requirements:

Visual inspection of Christmas trees, which were produced in an approved field (See Appendix 1), by an inspector. The inspector will examine a 10 percent random sample per lot (for the purpose of this document approximately 500 trees) of trees presented for inspection up to a maximum to 50 trees.

Upon finding gypsy moth on any tree in a lot, the inspector will refuse to certify the entire lot. Trees that have been rejected cannot be presented for reinspection unless the grower or shipper has sorted and inspected the entire lot to the inspector's satisfaction. In addition, all trees must meet Mexico's tolerance levels for other injurious pests (Appendix 2).

NOTE: All trees must be mechanically shaken by the producer/exporter to remove weeds and live pests.

NOTE: Mexico requires all Christmas trees certified from areas infested with gypsy moth to be inspected by a Mexican inspector in addition to being inspected by a CFIA inspector.

OR

c) Fumigation:

Treatment with methyl bromide by a certified applicator at the recommended product label rates to eradicate gypsy moth, pine shoot beetle or European pine shoot moth.

2.1.2 For Pinus species:

All pine Christmas trees must be fumigated (see section 2.1.1.2 c) above).

3.0 Appendices

Appendix 1: Gypsy Moth Control Program for Christmas Tree Growers
Appendix 2: Injurious Pest Tolerance Levels for Christmas Tree Exports to Mexico

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Appendix 1

Gypsy Moth Control Program for Christmas Tree Growers

PROCEDURES FOR AN APPROVED GROWER/PLANTATION:

Christmas tree growers who have fields within the gypsy moth regulated area must implement the following procedures to prevent the establishment of gypsy moth at each site where Christmas trees are produced in order to obtain an approved grower/ plantation status:

• ongoing monitoring by the grower of Christmas tree production sites, holding areas, etc. through spring egg mass inspections (March - April), larva inspections (May 15 - June 30) by placing a minimum of 3 burlap larval traps at each production site, and pheromone trapping for adults during the summer;
• steps must be taken by the grower, upon finding any viable gypsy moth life stage, to ensure that gypsy moth does not become established at the production site (treat all trees on the production site with a registered pest control product(s), e.g. application of Bacillus thuringiensis to control larvae during May-June);
• maintain accurate records of activities, i.e., spray records, shipping records, etc., and provide access to these records and the Christmas tree production sites to an inspector throughout the shipping season;
• take appropriate action, to the inspector's satisfaction, to eradicate gypsy moth, where it has been positively identified from the site, and segregate all infested trees from non-infested trees.

Note: Failure of the grower to follow any of these conditions will result in the revocation of his/her approved grower/plantation status.

All Christmas tree fields will be inspected periodically by an authorized CFIA inspector.

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Appendix 2

Injurious Pest Tolerance Levels for Christmas Tree Exports to Mexico

In addition to phytosanitary requirements against the named regulated quarantine pests, Mexican authorities also administer quality pest requirements under a separate regulation. Under this regulation, Mexican authorities will conduct audit inspections of shipments arriving at the Mexican border. Any shipments that do not meet the following pest levels, will be ordered fumigated before being allowed to enter Mexico.

1. Levels of infestation (per l00 needles inspected) allowed per truckload:
   1. 20 or fewer needles with tumors caused by foliage fly (Contarinia spp.);
   2. five or fewer needles with black scales or five or fewer leaves with white scales (Nuculaspis californica and Chionaspis pinifoliae);
   3. two or fewer needles with reproductive bodies of fungus of the leaf blight type (Cyclaneusma minus, Lophodermium seditiosum), infected needles must be brown with a green base;
   4. five or fewer needles with reproductive bodies of fungus of the leaf blight type (Rhabdocline pseudotsuga and Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii).
2. Levels of infestation of shoots (last l0 centimetres of current year's growth).
   • two or fewer colonies of aphid (Cinara, Adelges and Mindarus) in a total of nine green shoots visually inspected at the border, from a total of three trees sampled per truck load.