Page 1 of 10 
 
 
 
 
D-12-01  
 CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY 
59 Camelot Drive 
Ottawa, (Ontario), Canada 
K1A 0Y9  (Tel:  613-225-2342;  FAX:  613-773-7204) 
 EFFECTIVE DATE  
 
XX 2012 
(Original) 
Title:   Phytosanitary requirements to prevent the introduction of plants regulated as pest s in 
Canada 
 
SUBJECT 
This directive outlines the general phytosanitary requirements to prevent the int roduction of 
plants in Canada that are regulated as pests by the Canadian Food Inspection A gency (CFIA) 
under the Plant Protection Act.  It does not include plants and their products regulated under 
other Acts and Regulations nor those regulated as pathways for other plant pest s.  
 
 
 June 1, 2012          D-12-01  
 
Page 2 of 10  Table of Contents 
Review ............................................................................................................................................ 3  
Endorsement.................................................................................................................................. 3  
Amendment Record...................................................................................................................... 3  
Distribution.................................................................................................................................... 3  
Introduction................................................................................................................................... 3  
Scope............................................................................................................................................... 3  
References...................................................................................................................................... 4  
Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms.................................................................................. 4  
1.0  Phytosanitary Requirements............................................................................................ 4  
1.1.  Legislative authority ............................................................................................. 4  
1.2  Fees......................................................................................................................... 4  
1.3  Regulated Pests...................................................................................................... 4  
1.4  Regulated Commodities and Things ................................................................... 5  
1.5  Regulated areas ..................................................................................................... 5  
2.0  General Requirements...................................................................................................... 6  
2.1  Prohibitions ........................................................................................................... 6  
2.2  Exemptions ............................................................................................................ 6  
2.2.1  Treatment of imported plants and plant parts ................................................... 6 
2.3  Requirements for disposing of pest plants or material that could be inf ested with  
pest plants ...................................................................................................................... 7  
3.0  Commodity-Specific Requirements................................................................................. 7  
3.1  Importation of commodities that could be infested with a regulated pest p lant 8  
3.2  Domestic Movement.............................................................................................. 8  
Regulated pest plant species present in Canada are not widespread and ar e under official 
control. ........................................................................................................................... 8  
4.0  Non-Compliance................................................................................................................ 8  
5.0  Other requirements for the importation of plants and plant products ....................... 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 June 1, 2012          D-12-01  
 
Page 3 of 10  Review 
 
This directive will be reviewed every five (5) years, or as necessary.  For further information or 
clarification, please contact the CFIA 
 
Endorsement 
 
Approved by: 
 
 
___________________________________________________ 
 
Chief Plant Health Officer 
 
Amendment Record 
 
Amendments to this directive will be dated and distributed as outlined below.   
 
Distribution 
 
• Directive mail list (Areas, PHRA, USDA, other federal departments) 
• Provincial Government, Industry (determined by Author)  
• National Industry Organizations (determined by Author)  
• Internet  
 
Introduction 
 
This directive communicates the phytosanitary requirements to prevent the introduc tion in 
Canada of plants regulated as pests by the CFIA. The CFIA’s Invasive Plants P olicy was 
developed in recognition of the threats pest plants pose to Canada’s economy, society  and 
environment. In keeping with this policy, plant health risk assessments provide the s cientific 
rationale for regulating the plants included in this directive as pests. The CF IA will amend this 
directive in response to any changes made to the regulatory status of plants, inc luding the 
associated preventative measures in place. 
Scope 
The CFIA requires that certain measures be taken both for import and domestic move ment, to 
prevent the introduction or spread of plants considered to be pests in Canada. This directi ve 
indicates the conditions and restrictions applicable to those plants listed as regul ated pests in 
Section 1.3. 
 
This directive is intended for use by importers, retailers, nursery and gre enhouse operators, the 
Canada Border Services Agency, the CFIA, other government departments and the public . June 1, 2012          D-12-01  
 
Page 4 of 10  References 
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), 2008. RMD-08-02 ( Eriochloa villosa  - Woolly Cup 
Grass): Pest Risk Management Documents for Plant Health and Biosecurity Di rectorate, 
Ottawa.  
Risk Management Documents are available upon request from: IAS.EEE@inspection.gc.ca .  
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). 2006. International Standards for 
Phytosanitary Measures, Publications No. 1, 2, 7, 12. Secretariat of the Internationa l Plant 
Protection Convention, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 
Rome, Italy.  
Directive D-98-06:Interim Import requirements of parasitic plants: Cuscuta, Striga , and 
Orobanche . CFIA, 1998 
Invasive Plants Policy. Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 2011. 
CFIA. D-97-04: Application, procedures, issuance and use of a permit to import under the Pla nt 
Protection Act. 
Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms 
Definitions for terms used in this directive can be found in the Plant Health Glossary of Terms  
at:  http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/glosterme.sht ml   
1.0   Phytosanitary Requirements  
1.1.  Legislative authority 
 Plant Protection Act  (1990, c. 22)  
 Plant Protection Regulations  (SORS/95-212)  
 Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice, Canada Gazette: Part I  (as 
 amended from time to time)  
 Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act   
 (S.C. 1995, c. 40)  
 Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations  
 (SOR/2000-187) 
1.2 Fees 
The CFIA is charges fees in accordance with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees 
Notice.  For information regarding fees associated with imported product, please contact  the 
Import Service Centre  (ISC). Anyone requiring other information regarding fees may 
contact any local CFIA office  or visit our Fees Notice Web Site . 
1.3  Regulated Pests  
Scientific Name  Common Name June 1, 2012          D-12-01  
 
Page 5 of 10  Cuscuta  spp.  dodder (except buttonbush dodder, hazel dodder, swamp 
dodder, large-fruited dodder, five-angled dodder, 
smartweed dodder and saltmarsh dodder) 
Eriochloa villosa woolly cup grass 
Orobanche  spp.  broomrape (except California broomrape, flat-topped 
broomrape, clustered broomrape, prairie broomrape, 
pine broomrape and one-flowered broomrape) 
Striga spp . witchweed 
This list will be amended and additional plant species will be added as pest risk anal yses are 
completed. Notification will be given when additional plant species are listed. It is the 
importer’s responsibility to ensure they are using the most up to date information.  
In addition to the pests listed above, shipments must be free from all other pests on the  “ List 
of Pests Regulated by Canada ".  Note : For a comprehensive list of pests regulated by 
Canada, consult the CFIA website.  
1.4 Regulated Commodities and Things 
All plants and propagative parts of all species/taxa listed in Section 1.3. Plant species in 
and of themselves or as contaminant associated with other pathways in order to limit  
intentional and unintentional introduction of plants listed in Section 1.3. Examples of 
pathways include:  
• Plants for planting (e.g. ornamental, medicinal, industrial) 
• Seed 
• Grain crops (e.g. oilseeds, cereals, pulses, birdfeed) for livestock, human 
 consumption or other uses 
• Crop residues (e.g. packing materials, screenings) 
• Hay and straw  
• Soil 
• Machinery, equipment and/or tools  
• Handicrafts  
• Fresh produce  
 
1.5 Regulated areas 
 All origins   
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Page 6 of 10  2.0  General Requirements 
2.1 Prohibitions 
Importation and domestic movement of regulated plants and their propagative parts is 
prohibited.  Exceptions can granted for living material as outlined in Section 2.2.2 
Importation under a Section 43 Permit to Import under the Plant Protection Regulations .  
2.2 Exemptions 
2.2.1  Treatment of imported plants and plant parts  
Species listed in Section 1.3 may be imported when a recognized treatment is appl ied to 
render all plants and plant parts non-viable.  Note that treatment is to be done at orig in 
and treatment certificates must accompany the shipment.  
An acceptable treatment method must result in devitalization. The following 
devitalization processes are recognized by the CFIA.  
Grinding and milling  
Grinding or milling consists of reducing all plant parts to crumbs or powder. The mi lling 
must be fine enough so that no intact seed or other propagable part of the regulated 
species remains. 
Pelleting, micronizing and extruding  
Pelleting consists of converting milled ingredients into granules.  If the mi lling is not fine 
enough, pelleting will have to be performed at elevated temperatures in order to  be 
recognized as an effective devitalization process by the CFIA. 
Micronizing consists of exposing all plant parts to infrared rays that increas e their 
internal temperature and to pressure that makes certain otherwise non-degr adable proteins 
available. 
Extruding consists of forcing a product to pass through a small opening, or die, using 
pressure. This manufacturing process is performed at an elevated tempera ture and under 
strong pressure, and can be done dry or wet. June 1, 2012          D-12-01  
 
Page 7 of 10  Heat Treatment 
Plants and propagable plant parts must be heated to an internal temperature of 121 degree 
C for a minimum of 15 minutes.  
Other  
The CFIA may recognize and approve additional devitalization treatments on a cas e-by-
case basis. An application describing the method’s various parameters must be s ubmitted 
to the CFIA for evaluation. If acceptable, these will be approved in writing. 
2.3 Requirements for disposing of pest plants or material that could be in fested with 
 pest plants 
The approved methods for disposing of material or a product infested by pest plants are  
as follows: 
• burial to a minimum depth of one metre, as outlined in the International Waste 
 Directive (TAHD-DSAT-IE-2002-17-4). 
• incineration,  
• autoclaving, 
• any CFIA-approved processing method that devitalizes the propagative parts. This 
includes milling, grinding, pelleting, micronizing and extruding, as described in 
Section 2.2.1 of this directive.  
The CFIA may approve other means of disposal on a case-by-case basis. An applic ation 
describing the method’s various parameters must be submitted to the CFIA for 
evaluation.  
Movement of regulated articles and/or infested material to a disposal site mus t be 
authorized in writing by the CFIA. 
 
3.0   Commodity-Specific Requirements 
The import requirements stipulated in this policy are specific to controlling the  entry of 
regulated pest plants only. Additional import requirements may exist for other pe sts 
and/or commodities and these may be found by consulting the Plant Protection 
Directives . 
Various commodity sectors within the CFIA may have import requirements for the 
pathways that could be infested with pest plants. Such pathways include but are not 
limited to grain, hay, straw, seed, fresh produce, nursery stock, greenhouse plants, e tc.  In 
some cases, import requirements have been established and in others, are in development .   June 1, 2012          D-12-01  
 
Page 8 of 10  3.1 Importation of commodities that could be infested with a regulated pest  plant  
In order to be imported, regulated commodities listed in Section 1.4 must be free from 
regulated pest plants.  
Grain and seed: These consignments must be accompanied with documentation attest ing 
that the commodity is free of regulated pests such as a phytosanitary certif icate with 
additional declarations or another method of verifying freedom from contaminants that  is 
approved in writing by the CFIA.  
Grain or seed intended for cleaning is only permitted from the continental U.S. under a 
compliance agreement. In several processes (e.g. flour milling, oil crushi ng), the grain is 
initially screened to remove weed seeds and other debris. Screening consist s of a 
mechanical sorting by size and density to separate the grain and seed from its i mpurities. 
Any step in a process that generates screenings is considered cleaning . Such commodities 
are also subject to import conditions, regardless of the ultimate end use for the 
commodity.  
Screening must be performed by a facility that has signed a compliance ag reement with 
the CFIA. This agreement will consist of a description of the procedures that the f acility 
intends to follow in order to limit the risk of introducing and spreading pest plants. Any  
residue generated by processing must be collected and destroyed so as t o reduce the risk 
of introduction and spread of the regulated pest plant.  
Screenings can also be imported as such for further processing, including the product ion 
of animal feed pellets, from the continental U.S. under compliance agreements and 
import permits. 
3.2  Domestic Movement 
Regulated pest plant species present in Canada are not widespread and are under of ficial 
control. Movement of these species or commodities contaminated with such species a re 
also subject to phytosanitary measures. These include movement certificates , restriction 
of use, treatment, etc.  
4.0  Non-Compliance 
Imports not meeting Canada’s phytosanitary import requirements may be re fused entry or 
movement, removed from Canada, re-routed, returned to origin, re-exported, treated or 
destroyed at the importer's or shipper's expense. These expenses also include, but ar e not 
limited to, costs associated with quarantine actions resulting from accidental  
contamination caused and any seizure, confiscation and forfeiture of shipments. 
Import permits may be cancelled if an importer/shipper does not comply with the  
conditions of the Permit. 
Notifications of non-compliance will be issued in accordance with D-01-06: Canadian 
Phytosanitary Policy for the Notification of Non-Compliance and Emergency Ac tion . 
 
5.0 Other requirements for the importation of plants and plant products  June 1, 2012          D-12-01  
 
Page 9 of 10  Importation of plants and plant products may also be subject to other Federal Acts and 
Regulations (e.g. Seeds Act  and Regulations , Feeds Act  and Regulations , Animal Health 
Act  and Regulations , Canadian Wheat Board Act  and Regulations , Canada Grain Act  and 
Regulations, Species at Risk Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Wild Animal 
and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act and 
Regulations ).  It is the responsibility of the importer to adhere to those requirements as 
well. 
Importers wishing to know more about these acts and regulations should contact the 
appropriate Division or Department or Agency. Information is also available on the  
CFIA's web site .  Additionally, provinces and territories may have legislation relating to 
pest plants (e.g. weed acts) and should be contacted for information on that legislati on.  
The importation of plants and plant products with novel traits is regulated under the Plant 
Protection Act  and guided by Directive D-96-13: Import Requirements for Plants with 
Novel Traits, including Transgenic Plants and their Viable Plant Parts .  
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