D-13-03 – Phytosanitary import requirements to prevent the introduction of Lobesia botrana, the European grapevine moth

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) published the initial version of G/SPS/N/CAN/808 on 9 April 2014 to provide notification of the original version of directive "D-13-03: Phytosanitary import requirements to prevent the introduction of Lobesia botrana, the European grapevine moth". Implementation of the requirements in D-13-03 was divided into several phases. The CFIA is now publishing the 1st revision of D-13-03. At the end of the implementation period for the 1st revision of D-13-03, the requirements related to L. botrana will be fully implemented. L. botrana is a polyphagous insect that feeds predominantly on grapes but also on a wide range of alternate hosts where it reduces both yields and quality, in all areas of the world where it is present. L. botrana is not present in Canada but could survive in Canada's major grape-growing areas.The changes included in the 1st revision of D-13-03 are as follows:
• Following the eradication of L. botrana in the United States, this country has been removed from the list of regulated countries in Annex 2 of D-13-03 (trade facilitating). These changes have already been implemented in the CFIA's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/imports/airs/eng/1300127512994/1300127627409).
• The following taxa, both fruits and plants, have been removed from the list of regulated articles in Annex 1 of D-13-03 as they have been re-evaluated (based on feedback from other countries and additional review of the scientific literature) as posing a relatively low risk for the introduction of L. botrana into Canada: Actinidia spp. (kiwi), Berberis vulgaris (European barberry), Diospyros kaki (persimmon), Punica granatum (pomegranate), Ziziphus jujuba (Chinese date) (trade facilitating). Some of these requirements had never been implemented in AIRS and those that were have now been removed.
• Cut plant material (e.g. for consumption or decorative purposes) of regulated host taxa is now exempt from specific requirements for L. botrana, though all articles imported to Canada must still be free from the pest (trade facilitating). These requirements were never implemented in AIRS.
• For plants for planting, the requirement for a pest-free area, systems approach or fumigation has been replaced with a requirement for an additional declaration stating the plants have been inspected and found free from flowers, fruits and L. botrana. This change is trade facilitating but note that, though the previous stricter requirements were notified in the previous version of this notification (published on 9 April 2014), they were never implemented in AIRS. This will therefore be the first time that specific requirements related to L. botrana are implemented for plants for planting. These requirements will be implemented in AIRS on the effective date of D-13-01 1st rev. (2 January 2018).
• For fresh fruit, the wording of the additional declarations for pest-free areas and systems approaches has been modified. These changes will be implemented in AIRS on the effective date of D-13-01 1st rev. (2 January 2018), but there will be a 30-day implementation period during which both the old and the new additional declarations will be accepted on phytosanitary certificates received by Canada. Starting on 1 February 2018, only the new additional declarations will be accepted.
• The fumigation schedules for fresh fruit have been moved from the appendices of this directive to a stand-alone webpage referenced in the directive. The fumigation schedules for fresh blueberries and grapes have been modified and the equivalent schedules in the United States Department of Agriculture Treatment Manual have been noted. Following the effective date of D-13-03 1st rev. (2 January 2018), there will be a 6-month implementation period during which either the old or new fumigation schedules may be used and will be accepted on phytosanitary certificates received by Canada; both sets of fumigation schedules will appear in AIRS. Starting on 3 July 2018, only the new fumigation schedules may be used; the older fumigation schedules will be removed from AIRS.