WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/161/Rev.2
17 June 2003
(03-3207)
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:   Costa
Rica, Guatemala and Kenya, or  countries exporting geraniums of Costa Rican, 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, and
Plants 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:  On 3 June 2003, the Canadian F ood Inspection Agency (CFIA)
suspended the importation of geraniums ( Pelargonium  spp.) from Costa Rica due to an
introduction of Ralstonia solanacearum  Race 3, biovar 2 linked to Costa Rican sources.
On 15 April 2003, the CFIA suspended the importation of geraniums ( Pelargonium  spp.)
from Guatemala due to an introduction of Ralstonia solanacearum  Race 3, 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 3, biovar 2 in exporting
Kenyan greenhouses.
D-02-02 lists Ralstonia solanacearum  Race 3 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 pestsG/SPS/N/CAN/161/Rev.2
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8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  The Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) has susp ended importation of geraniums ( Pelargonium  spp.) from
Costa Rica after identifying Pelargonium spp. infected with Ralstonia solanacearum  Race 3
(Biovar 2) in greenhouses in Canada.  The infe cted plant material has been traced back to
exports from Costa Rica.  R. solanacearum , a quarantine pest to Canada, causes brown rot in
potatoes and bacterial wilt in tomatoes.
On 3 June 2003, the CFIA confirmed the presence of R. solanacearum  Race 3 (Biovar 2) in 3
Canadian greenhouses on Pelargonium spp. im ported from Costa Rica.  The CFIA has
quarantined the implicated facilities and is ta king regulatory action to prevent the possible
spread of this disease, including the destruc tion of infected plant material, the suspension of
geranium imports from Costa Rica and a trace out of material from the affected facilities.
This measure will remain in place until appropr iate risk mitigation measures are developed.
On 14 April 2003, the CFIA was advised of the presence of R. solanacearum  Race 3 (Biovar
2) in a greenhouse in Ontario on material imported from Guatemala.  The CFIA has
quarantined this facility in question and has ta ken action to prevent the possible spread of this
disease, including the suspension of importa tion of geraniums from Guatemala and a trace
out of material from the facility.  This measure will remain in place until appropriate risk
mitigation measures are deve loped.  (G/SPS/N/CAN/161/Rev.1)
On 14 February 2003, the CFIA was advised of the presence of R. solanacearum  Race 3
(Biovar 2) on imported geraniums of Kenyan or igin distributed in Canada.  The CFIA has
contained all shipments and has taken action to prevent the possible spread of this disease,
including the suspension of importation of geraniums from Kenya.  This measure will remainin place until appropriate risk mitigation measures are developed. (G/SPS/N/CAN/161)
The CFIA suspended the importation of geraniums ( Pelargonium  spp.) from Kenya because
of an outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum  Race 3 (Biovar 2) in exporting Kenyan
greenhouses.
The CFIA is developing interim phytosanitary requirements for the importation of
Pelargonium  spp. and Solanum  spp. propagative material.  This interim policy will be
implemented on an emergency basis as a precaution to prevent the introduction of Ralstonia
solanacearum , Race 3 (Biovar 2) into Canada.
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 Planting (Available in French and English)
Plant Protection Act and Plant Protection Regulations (Available in French and English)
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):   
Costa Rica 3 June, 2003
Guatemala 15 April 2003
Kenya 18 February 2003G/SPS/N/CAN/161/Rev.2
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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)