. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/101
20 April 2001
(01-1990)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English/
French
NOTIFICATION
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).  Certain varieties of deciduous rust-resistant barberry plants (e.g. Japanese
barberry).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Proposed Amendment to the Plant
Protection Regulations (pages 1372-1380)
5. Description of content: Schedule I to the Plant Protection Regulations prohibits the
movement of specific commodities (e.g. varieties of barberry plants) within Canada. The
purpose of the prohibitions is to prevent the spread of named plant pests. Schedule I only
allows for the movement of what has traditionally been believed to be rust-resistantspecies of barberry plants.
The amendment to Schedule I to the Plant Protection Regulations is required to allow for
the domestic movement of certain varieties of deciduous rust-resistant barberry plants
(e.g. Japanese barberry) within Canada, thereby making it possible to allow for the
importation of such plants into Canada. Importation of deciduous barberry is currently
prohibited, because of the likelihood that these plants are susceptible hosts for a disease
(i.e. black stem rust) of wheat and other cereals.
CFIA will allow the importation and domestic movement of rust-resistant varieties (e.g.
Japanese barberry) in Canada with the inte rvention of government to ensure that only
approved varieties/cultivars are imported, multiplied, and moved within Canada. This is
to prevent the introduction of wild barberry plants and to mitigate the risk of black stem
rust outbreaks in the cereal growing areas of Canada.
The proposed change will allow the importation of Japanese barberry from the United
States only. Barberry plants from any country that can meet Canada’s phytosanitary
requirements will be treated the same as plants from the United States.
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           G/SPS/N/CAN/101
Page 2
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  T his regulatory amendment is consistent with
internationally recognized standards and guidelines of the North American Plant Protection
Organization and the International Plant Protection Convention of the Food and AgriculturalOrganization of the United Nations.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Canada Gazette,
Part I, 14 April 2001 (available in English and French).
9. Proposed date of adoption:  not stated
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  not stated
11. Final date for comments:   14 May 2001
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:           
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
The electronic version of the Canada Gazette Part I can be downloaded at:
http://canada.gc.ca/gazette/part1/pdf/g1-13515.pdf