G/SPS/N/USA/3276  
 
23 September 2021  
(21-7111) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service  
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):  Fragaria spp., Rosa spp., and Rubus spp. plants  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Canada  
5. Title of the notified document:  APHIS amends entry requirements for importation of 
Fragaria spp., Rosa spp., and Rubus spp. plants from Canada into the United States  to 
prevent the entry of the strawberry blossom weevil ( Anthonomus rubi ) by Federal Order . 
Language(s): English . Number of  pages: 3 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import -information/federal -
import -orders  
6. Description of content:  Effective 14 September 2021, USDA's Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the entry requirements for the importation of 
Fragaria spp., Rosa spp., and Rubus spp. plants produced in Canada to prevent the 
introduction of the strawberr y blossom weevil ( Anthonomus rubi ) into the United States. 
To prevent introduction of strawberry blossom weevil ( Anthonomus rubi ) into the United 
States, APHIS requires that Fragaria spp., Rosa spp., and Rubus spp. plants for planting 
produced in Canada mu st be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with  additional 
declarations described by Federal Emergency Order. The imported plants from Canada 
must have been produced and certified by the National Plant Protection Organization 
(NPPO) of Canada as a pe st-free place of production or a pest free production site for the 
strawberry blossom weevil ( Anthonomus rubi ) following the requirements of the 
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures -10. The shipment has been inspected 
and found to be free of the strawberry blossom weevil ( Anthonomus rubi ). 
Strawberry blossom weevil is a serious pest of strawberry ( Fragaria  spp.) and raspberry 
(Rubus  spp.). Blackberry ( Rubus  spp.) and rose ( Rosa spp.) are considered occasional 
hosts. When imported as plants for planting these hosts represent a pathway for the entry 
of this pest into the United States. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported 
strawberry blossom weevil populations being detected in British Columbia, Canada. 
This detection is the first confirmed report of this pest in North America.  
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.  G/SPS/N/USA/3276  
 
- 2 - 
 
  8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  The strawberry 
blossom weevil females lay eggs in unopened flower buds of their hosts. The female will 
then chew through the ste m just below the bud, and the bud will drop from the plant. 
Eggs, larvae, and pupae are found inside closed flower buds of host plants. The larvae feed 
and develop in the "clipped" bud, which will reduce the total number of viable buds on the 
plant. The lo st bud will not be able to produce a fruit once clipped. In Europe, this pest has 
caused up to 80% loss of the berry crop. Fragaria spp. and Rosa spp. plants for planting 
from Canada require a phytosanitary certificate if not produced through the United St ates-
Canada Greenhouse Grown Plant Certification Program (GCP) or the Canadian Nursery 
Certification Program (CNCP). This Federal Order modifies the entry requirements for 
Fragaria spp., Rosa spp., and Rubus spp. plants for planting from Canada. Fragaria spp. 
and Rosa spp. plants for planting from Canada imported under the GCP and the CNCP will 
be allowed only after implementation of the pest module for Anthonomus rubi.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Code x Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the regulatory authority provided by the 
Plant Protection Act of 20 June 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 7 U.S.C. 7712(a). 
Under the Act, the Secretary may prohibit  or restrict the importation, entry, exportation, 
or movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant product, biological control 
organism, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance, if the Secretary determines that 
the prohibition or restriction is  necessary to prevent the introduction into the United States 
or the dissemination of a plant pest or noxious weed within the United States. 
The regulatory authority provided by 7 U.S.C. 7754 allows the Secretary to issue orders to 
carry out this provision  of the Plant Protection Act  (available in English) . 
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
To be determined.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Noti fication 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Senior Regulatory Specialist Narasimha Chary Samboju, at +(301) 851 2038 or 
narasimha.c.samboju@usda.gov  
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import -information/federal -
import -orders