. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/161/Rev.1
10 June 2003
(03-2970)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
Revision
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:   Canadian Food Inspection Agency
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):   Geraniums ( Pelargonium spp. ) (060210 and 060290)
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
Guatemala and Kenya or countries exporting ge raniums of Guatemalan or Kenyan origin.
5. Title, language  and number of pages of the notified document:  Directive D-02-02:
Plant Protection Import Requirements for Rooted, or Unrooted Plants, Plant Parts, andPlants In Vitro for Planting (English, 13 pages; French, 15 pages)
Plant Protection Act and Plant Protection Regulations (English, 30 pages;  French,
31 pages)
6. Description of content:  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has suspended
importation of geraniums ( Pelargonium  spp.) from Guatemala due to an introduction of
Ralstonia solanacearum  Race III, biovar 2 linked to Guatemalan sources.
On 18 February 2003, the CFIA suspended importation of geraniums ( Pelargonium  spp.)
from Kenya because of an outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum  Race III, biovar 2 in
exporting Kenyan greenhouses.
D-02-02 lists Ralstonia solanacearum  Race III as a quarantine pest for Canada.
7. Objective and rationale:  [    ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [ X ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ]  protect territory from other
damage from pests
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:   The CFIA has suspended
importation of geraniums ( Pelargonium  spp.) from Guatemala because of the identification
of a greenhouse infected with Ralstonia solanacearum  Race III, biovar 2 in Canada that has
been traced back to exports from Guatemala.  R. solanacearum  is a serious plant pest,
causing brown rot in potatoes and bacterial wilt in tomatoes.G/SPS/N/CAN/161/Rev.1
Page 2
On 14 April 2003, the CFIA was advised of the presence of R. solanacearum Race III,
biovar 2, in a greenhouse in Ontario on materi al imported from Guatemala.  The CFIA has
quarantined this facility in question and is taking action to prevent the possible spread of
this disease, including the suspension of importation of geraniums from Guatemala as well
as trace out of material from the facility.  This measure will remain in place until
appropriate risk mitigation measures are developed
The CFIA has suspended importation of geraniums ( Pelargonium  spp.) from Kenya because
of an outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum  Race III, biovar 2 in exporting Kenyan
greenhouses.  R. solanacearum  is a serious plant pest, causing brown rot in potatoes and
bacterial wilt in tomatoes.
On 14 February 2003, the CFIA was advised of the presence of R. solanacearum  Race III,
biovar 2, on imported geraniums of Kenyan orig in distributed in Canada.  The CFIA has
contained all shipments and is taking action to  prevent the possible spread of this disease,
including the suspension of importation of geraniums from Kenya.  This measure will remain
in place until appropriate risk mitigation measures are developed.
In addition, CFIA is reviewing its Pest Risk Assessment for this disease to determine if
further actions should be taken to prevent the spread of R. solanacearum  Race III, biovar 2,
from other countries where this disease is present.
9. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [ X ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
10. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:
Directive D-02-02: Plant Protection Import Requ irements For Rooted, Or Unrooted Plants,
Plant Parts, And Plants In Vitro For Pl anting (Available in English and French)
Plant Protection Act and Plant Protection Regulations (Available in English and French)
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):   Guatemala - 15 April 2003;
Kenya - 18 February 2003
12. Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
The electronic version of the Import Requirements for Rooted, or Unrooted Plants, Plant
Parts, and Plants In Vitro for Planting can be downloaded at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-02-02e.shtml  (English)
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/francais/plaveg/protect/dir/d-02-02f.shtml  (French)
The regulatory text of the Plant Protection Regulations is available at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/reg/rege.shtml  (English)
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/francais/reg/regf.shtml  (French)