RMD–25–03: Pest risk management document to deregulate Phytophthora abietivora in Canada

The risk management document includes a summary of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) risk assessments on Phytophthora abietivora and presents CFIA’s regulatory decision under the authority of the Plant Protection ActPhytophthora abietivora is a fungal plant pathogen reported as causing root rot in fir (Abies spp.) trees. It is a recently documented pathogen that was originally isolated from diseased Christmas trees (fraser fir, Abies fraseri) in 2019 in Connecticut, United States. Since 2024, the CFIA has confirmed its presence in four Christmas tree plantations in Quebec, one provincial park in Ontario, and in three sites in Nova Scotia. The Province of Quebec has also reported detections at over 50 sites across the province.Given the known distribution in Eastern Canada and the ineffectiveness of risk management options for this pathogen, the CFIA is proposing to deregulate Phytophthora abietivora in Canada. Risk management document RMD-25-03 presents CFIA’s regulatory decision.