. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/79
12 January 2000
(00-0100)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
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 may be provided in addition, where
applicable). All commercial and ornament al propagative material of Prunus  spp. (including
seed, pollen, trees, cuttings, budwood, scionwood a nd rootstocks) including but not limited to:
P. amygdalus  (almond), P. armeniaca  (apricot), P. persica var. nectarina  (nectarine), P.
persica  (peach), and P. domestica  (plum), with the exception of cherry (13 Prunus  species).
Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  United
States
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document: Import Prohibition and Restriction of
Prunus  Nursery Stock (including seed) originatin g in the Continental United States (D-99-07)
(12 pages)
5. Description of content:  This directive covers changes to the import requirements for Prunus
(stone fruit) nursery stock including seeds from the continental United States (US) to prevent
the entry into Canada of a serious stone fruit disease, plum pox virus.
6. 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           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  In October 1999, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) was notified of the presence of plum  pox virus in Adams County in the State of
Pennsylvania (PA).  This disease has not b een found previously in Canada and can cause
serious economic damage to trees.  As there is limited information on the extent of the disease
occurrence and as there is significant trade of host species from the United States, Canada has
taken the measure at this time to suspend importation of all host Prunus  species from the
United States.
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: Import Prohibition
and Restriction of Prunus Nursery Stock (including seed) originating in the Continental
United States (D-99-07) (Available in English and French)G/SPS/N/CAN/79
Page 2
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable): 22 October 1999
(Suspension of Prunus  importation from Pennsylvania, United States), 29 October 1999
(Suspension of Prunus  importation from New York a nd Washington, United States),
19 November 1999 (Suspension of Prunus  importation from all US States).
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[    ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: