D-DNS 11: 202x  
 
 
  
 
DOMINICA NATIONAL STANDARD  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF GROWING MEDIA IN 
ASSOCIATION WITH PLANTS FOR PLANTING  
 
D-DNS 11: 20xx  
 
 
 
 
©DBOS 202x  
Dominica Bureau of Standards  
National Centre of Testing Excellence  
P.O. Box 1015, Stockfarm, Roseau  
Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.  
Tel.: 767 -275-5921/3017  
Email: info@dominicastandards.org  
 
 
 
 
 
___________ 202x       Price Group  ______  
D-DNS 11: 202x  
 
 
   
COPYRIGHT © 202x  
This document contains proprietary information, and should not be published, reproduced, copied, 
disclosed or used for any purpose without the prior written approval of the Dominica Bureau of 
Standards (DBOS).  This does not preclude quotation for the purposes of review or comments. 
Enquiries relating to copyright may be addressed to the Director, Dominica Bureau of Standards  
  
i 
 Draft No.  1 
ISSUED FOR COMMENT ONLY  
DRAFT  
DOMINICA NATIONAL STANDARD  
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF GROWING MEDIA IN ASSOCIATION WITH 
PLANTS FOR PLANTING  
 
D-DNS 11: 202x  
 
 
 
 
 
Last date for comments …………………………..  
 
 
 
DOMINICA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
National Centre of Testing Excellence  
Stockfarm  
P.O. Box 1015  
Roseau  
COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA  
Email: info@dominicastandards.org   
  This is a draft and should not be regarded or used as a 
Dominica National Standard   
ii 
 GENERAL STATEMENT  
 
The Dominica Bureau of Standards was established under the Standards Act (#4) of 1999 and 
started operations in April 2000. A broad -based 15 -member Standards Council governs the affairs 
of the Bureau.  
 
The Standards Act gives the Bureau the responsibility  to facilitate the development and promotion 
of Standards and Codes of Practice for products and services for the protection of the health and 
safety of consumers and the environment as well as for industrial development in order to promote 
the enhancement  of the economy of Dominica.  
 
The Bureau develops Standards through consultations with relevant interest groups. In accordance 
with the provisions of the Standards Act, public comment is invited on all draft Standards before 
they are declared as Dominica National Standards (DNS).  
 
The Bureau is a correspondent member body of the International Organization for Standardization 
(ISO), an affiliate member of the International Electro -technical Commission (IEC), and a member 
of the Caribbean Regional Organization for Standards and Quality ( CROSQ) and the Pan 
American Standards Commission (COPANT). The Bureau is the local agent for foreign Standard 
Body, the American Standards for Testing and Measurement (ASTM). The Bureau also serves as 
the enquiry point for the World Trade Organization (WTO ) on matters pertaining to the Technical 
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement and is the Contact Point for Codex Alimentarius.  
 
In accordance with good practice for the adoption and application of Standards, Dominica National 
Standards are subject to periodic  review every five years.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
iii 
  
 
 
 
Amendments  
 
 
 
Amendment No.   
Date of Issue   
Text (s) Affected  
   
 
   
iv 
 DOMINICA NATIONAL STANDARD  
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF USED VEHICLES, MACHINERY AND 
EQUIPMENT  
 
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE – Food Products, Processes and Services (FPPS)  
 
 
ORGANIZATION  REPRESENTIVE (S)  
(Alternate)  
Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce  Alleyna Robin  
Dominica Export Import Agency  Lloyd Pascal  
Sharon Rolle  
Dominica Manufacturers Association  Linvor Ambo  
Dominica State College  Sharon Allicock Joseph  
Valda Joseph  
IICA  Kent Coipel  
Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries  Anna Mary Seraphine  
Ministry of Trade, Energy, and Employment  Margaret Roudette  
Jackie Xavier  
TECHNICAL SECRETARY  
Mr. Kyle James  
Technical Officer, DBOS  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
1 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS  
 
 
0.0 FOREWORD  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 2 
INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......  3 
Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  3 
References  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  3 
Definition s ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  3 
Outline of Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  3 
BACKGROUND  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT  ................................ ..............................  4 
REQUIREMENTS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 4 
1. Pest Risk Analysis  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  4 
2. Factors That Affect the Pest Risk of Growing Media  ................................ ................................ ...... 4 
3. Pest Risk Management Options  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  5 
3.1    Growing media free from quarantine pests  ................................ ................................ .................  5 
3.2    Treatments  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 6 
3.3    Inspectio n, sampling and testing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 6 
3.4    Quarantine  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 7 
3.5    Prohibition  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 7 
ANNEX 1: Common components of growing media ranked in order of increasing relative pest risk 8 
ANNEX 2: Examples of growing media and the measures that may effectively manage their pest 
risk when  associated with plants for planting  ................................ ................................ ........................  10 
APPENDIX 1: Examples of common combinations of plants for planting and growing media moved 
internationally  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  11 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
2 
  
0.0 FOREWORD  
 
0.1. This Dominica National Standard was adopted by the Bureau of Standards (the 
Bureau) of the Commonwealth of Dominica on  _____________  after the draft was 
finalized by Technical Committee for Food Products, Processes and Services (FPPS) 
and has been approved by the  Minister responsible for the Bureau.  
 
0.2. This Standard became effective as a Compulsory Standard on the date notified by the 
Minister with responsibility for the Bureau of Standards in a Notice published in the 
Commonwealth of Dominica Official Gazette on ________________.  
 
0.3. This standard is an identical adoption of International Standards for  Phytosanitary 
Measures (ISPM) 40: 2017 - International movement of growing media in association 
with plants for planting . 
 
0.4. Acknowledgement is given to International Plant Protection Convention  (IPPC ) for 
providing permission to adopt ISPM 40: 2017.  
 
0.5. Although the editorial style and layout of the ISPM 40: 2017 are not in conformity 
with that of Dominica's Standards, the identical adoption has been approved as suitable 
for publication as a Dominica National Standard.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
3 
  
INTRODUCTION  
Scope  
This standard provides guidance for the assessment of the pest risk of growing media in association 
with plants for planting and describes phytosanitary measures to manage the pest risk of growing 
media associated with plants for planting in international movement.   
Growing media moved as a separate commodity, contaminating a commodity or used as packaging 
material are not considered in this standard.   
References  
The present standard refers to International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). I SPMs 
are available on the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) a t https://www.ippc.int/core -
activities/standards setting/ispms .  
Definitions  
Definitions of phytosanitary terms used in this  standard can be found in ISPM 5 ( Glossary of 
phytosanitary terms ).   
Outline of Requirements  
Pest risk analysis (PRA) should provide the technical justification for phytosanitary import 
requirements for growing media in association with plants for planti ng.   
The origin and the production method of components of growing media can affect the pest risk of 
the growing media associated with plants for planting. Growing media should be produced, stored 
and maintained under conditions that prevent contamination  or infestation. These conditions will 
depend on the type of growing medium used. Growing media may need to be appropriately treated 
before use.   
The production methods for plants for planting may affect the pest risk of growing media 
associated with thes e plants for planting.   
Pest risk management options related to growing media in association with plants for planting – 
including phytosanitary measures such as treatment, inspection, sampling, testing, quarantine and 
prohibition – are described in this s tandard.   
BACKGROUND  
Soil as a growing medium is considered to be a high -risk pathway because it can harbour numerous 
quarantine pests and a number of other growing media are also recognized pathways for the 
introduction and spread of quarantine pests. The pest risk of growing  media in association with 
plants for planting depends on factors related to both the production of the growing media and the 
production of the plants, as well as the interaction between the two.  
Many countries have legislation in place to regulate the mo vement of growing media, particularly 
soil or soil as a component of growing media, but not necessarily for growing media associated  
4 
 with plants for planting. Growing media, particularly soil, are often prohibited. While it is possible 
to remove growing me dium from some plants for planting, it may be difficult to completely avoid 
the movement of growing media in association with plants for planting. Some plants can survive 
transport only when moved in growing medium.   
 
IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY AND THE ENVIRO NMENT   
Pests associated with the international movement of growing media in association with plants for 
planting may have negative impacts on biodiversity. Implementation of this standard could 
significantly reduce the introduction and spread of quarantine pests associated with growing media 
and consequently reduce their negative impacts. In addition, the application of phytosanitary 
measures in accordance with this standard could also reduce the probability of introduction and 
spread of other organisms that may b ecome invasive alien species in the importing country and 
thus affect biodiversity.   
Certain phytosanitary measures (e.g. some treatments with fumigants) may have a negative impact 
on the environment. Countries are encouraged to promote the use of phytosa nitary measures that 
have a minimal negative impact on the environment.  
REQUIREMENTS  
1. Pest Risk Analysis   
This standard addresses the pest risk of quarantine pests in growing media, and only growing media 
that are associated with plants for planting. In some cases, however, regulated non -quarantine pests 
associated with those growing media may also need to be considered in the PRA.  
Phytosanitary import requirements for growing media should be technically justified and based on 
a PRA in accordance with IS PM 2 ( Framework for pest risk analysis ), ISPM 11 ( Pest risk analysis 
for quarantine pests ) and ISPM 21 ( Pest risk analysis for regulated non -quarantine pests ). The 
PRA should include consideration of the factors that affect the pest risk of growing media, 
described in this standard, and factors related to the production of plants for planting, described in 
Annex 1 of ISPM 36 ( Integrated measures for plants for planting ). The pest risk posed by plants 
for planting, as well as that of the associated growing m edia in which the plants were grown, 
should be assessed together.  
It should be noted that quarantine pests carried with growing medium in association with a plant 
may be pests of other plants, or may act as a vector for other pests.   
2. Factors That Affect the Pest Risk of Growing Media  
The production methods for plants for planting may affect the pest risk of the growing media used. 
While some growing media may pose a low pest risk by nature of their production, they may 
become contaminated or infested, de pending on the type and composition of the growing medium 
during the production process of the commodity (i.e. growing media in association with plants for 
planting).    
5 
 The national plant protection organization (NPPO) of the importing country may take int o 
consideration the pest risk of growing media (as outlined in Annex 1, Annex 2 and Appendix 1) 
when conducting a PRA to identify appropriate phytosanitary measures. Based on the pests 
regulated by the importing country, the PRA should include consideratio n of the pest status in the 
importing and exporting countries. Furthermore, the pest risk may also depend on:   
- whether the growing media are new or reused  
- the origin of the growing media  
- the components of the growing media  
- the measures used in the production of the growing media, including the degree of processing 
and any treatments applied  
- the measures to prevent contamination or infestation of the growing media before planting, 
such as  during transportation and storage, as well as during plant propagation and production 
(e.g. use of clean starter plant stock, treatment of the irrigation water and avoiding exposure 
to high -risk growing media)  
- the length of the plant’s production cycle  
- the quantity of growing media present in association with all plants for planting in a 
consignment.  
In the assessment of pest risk, data on historical or existing importation of growing media and their 
geographical origin may be relevant.   
The origin and  production method of components of growing media affect the pest risk of growing 
media. Annex 1 lists common components of growing media and indicates their relative pest risk, 
assuming that they were not previously used as growing media and that they hav e been handled 
and stored in a way that prevents their contamination and recontamination.  
Growing media containing organic components (including plant debris) may be more likely to 
harbour pests and so generally pose greater pest risk than purely mineral or synthetic growing 
media. If the growing medium consists of organic components, the pest risk may be particularly 
difficult to assess fully because of the likely presence of unknown organisms and it should be 
processed in a way that adequately addresses the pest risk.  
3. Pest Risk Management Options  
The following measures may be used singly or in combination to ensure the pest risk of growing 
media is adequately managed.  
3.1    Growing media free from quarantine pests  
Growing media free from quarantine pests may be achieved by :  
- using growing media produced in a process that renders the growing media free from pests  
- using growing media or their components collected from a pest free area or a pest free 
production  
site  
- applying appropriate tr eatments to growing media that are not free from pests, before their 
use.   
6 
 Growing media should be produced under a system that allows appropriate trace back and forward 
of both the media and their components, where appropriate.   
Pest free growing media s hould be stored and maintained under conditions that keep them free 
from quarantine pests. The growing media should not be exposed to plants, pests, untreated soil, 
other untreated growing media or contaminated water. If this has not been achieved, the gro wing 
media should be treated appropriately before use.   
Plants intended to be planted in the pest free growing media should be free from relevant quarantine 
pests.  
The following measures may be used to prevent contamination or infestation of the growing media 
after planting the plants:  
- using clean tools, clean equipment, clean containers, etc.   
- keeping the growing media associated with the plants in a pest free area or a pest free place 
of production  
- using water free from quarantine pests  
- using physical isolation (e.g. protected conditions, prevention of pest transmission by wind, 
production on  benches separated from contact with soil).  
Examples of pest management measures to reduce pest risk that could be appropriate for growing 
media are available in ISPM 36.  
3.2    Treatments  
Treatments may be applied at various stages in the production cy cle to mitigate the pest risk of 
growing media. Treatments that may be applied singly or in combination include:   
- treatment of growing media before planting or after planting (e.g. steam treatment, heat 
treatment, chemical treatment, a combination of trea tments)  
- treatment of fields or planting beds intended for the production of plants for planting   
- treatment (e.g. filtration, sterilization) of water or water -based solution used for irrigation or 
as a growing medium  
- treatment of plants or propagative pla nt parts (e.g. seeds, bulbs, cuttings) before planting  
- removal or growing media1 (e.g. by root washing or plant shaking).  
 
Factors such as temperature may affect the results of treatments. Also, some pesticides may only 
suppress, rather than eradicate, pest populations. Verification of the effectiveness of a treatment 
after application may be necessary.   
After treatment, appr opriate measures should be taken to avoid recontamination or reinfestation.   
3.3    Inspection, sampling and testing   
The places of production and the processing or treatment procedures for growing media may be 
inspected, monitored or approved by the NPP O of the exporting country, which should ensure that 
phytosanitary import requirements are met.    
7 
 Plants for planting and associated growing media may need to be inspected to determine if pests 
are present or to determine compliance with phytosanitary impo rt requirements (ISPM 23 
(Guidelines for inspection )). However, most pests in growing media cannot be detected by 
inspection alone and testing may be required.   
The NPPO of the importing country may require or undertake sampling and testing of the growing  
media associated with plants for planting (ISPM 20 ( Guidelines for a phytosanitary import 
regulatory system ); ISPM 31 ( Methodologies for sampling of consignments )). However, sampling 
and testing may not detect some types of pests, in particular at low -level contamination or 
infestation of the growing media. To verify that required measures have been carried out, testing 
may include testing for indicator organisms (easily detectable organisms whose presence indicates 
that required measures failed to be effe ctive or were not implemented).    
3.4    Quarantine  
The NPPO of the importing country may require quarantine for growing media attached to plants 
for planting, to reduce the pest risk. Quarantine allows for options such as testing, observation for 
signs o r symptoms, and treatment for plants for planting and growing medium attached to the 
plants, during a quarantine period.  
Quarantine may also be used for monitoring in cases where knowledge about the pest risk is 
incomplete or there is an indication of a f ailure of measures taken in the exporting country (e.g. a 
significant number of interceptions).   
3.5    Prohibition  
In cases where the measures outlined above are not deemed applicable, feasible or sufficient for 
growing media in association with certain plants for planting, the entry of growing medium in 
association with plants for planting may be prohibited.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
8 
 This annex is a prescriptive part of the standard.   
ANNEX 1: Common components of growing media ranked in order of increasing relative 
pest risk  
The approximate ranking provided in this table is for components of growing media that have not 
previousl y been used for planting and have been handled and stored in a way that prevents 
contamination or infestation (e.g. they are free from soil).  
The table outlines the relative pest risk posed by different components of growing media, but not 
in association with plants for planting.   
Components of growing media   Facilitate 
pest 
survival   Comments   
Baked clay pellets   No   Inert material  
Synthetic media (e.g. glass wool, 
rock wool, polystyrene, floral foam, 
plastic particles, polyethylene, 
polymer stabilized starch, 
polyurethane, water -absorbing 
polymers)   No   Inert material  
Vermiculite, perlite, volcanic rock, 
zeolite, scoria   No   Heat of production renders vermiculite 
and perlite virtually sterile   
Clay  No     
Gravel, sand   No     
Paper, including corrugated 
cardboard  Yes   High level of processing   
Tissue culture medium (agar -like)   Yes   Autoclaved or sterilized before use   
Coconut fibres (coir/coco peat)   Yes   Pest risk depends on level of processing   
Sawdust, wood shavings (excelsior)   Yes   Size of particles and heat treatment may 
affect the probability of pest survival  
Water   Yes   Pest risk depends on source and 
treatment    
9 
 Components of growing media   Facilitate 
pest 
survival   Comments   
Wood chips   Yes   Size of particles may affect the 
probability of pest survival  
Cork   Yes   Pest risk depends on level of processing   
Peat (excluding peat soil)   Yes   Pest risk is lower where the origin has 
had no agricultural exposure (e.g. 
certified bogs). Peat may contain seeds 
of plants as pests.   
Non-viable moss (sphagnum)   Yes   Pest risk depends on level of 
processing. Living moss (sphagnum) 
may contain seeds of plants as pests.   
Other plant material (e.g. rice 
hulls/chaff, grain hulls, coffee 
hulls, fallen leaves, sugar -cane 
refuse, grape marc, cocoa pods, oil 
palm shell charc oal)   Yes   Pest risk is reduced if treated or from a 
clean non -infested source   
Bark   Yes   Pest risk depends on source (potential to 
harbour forest pests) and degree of 
processing or fermentation   
Biowaste   Yes   Pest risk depends on source and degree 
of processing  
Soil   Yes  Pest risk can be reduced if treated  
Tree fern slabs  Yes   Pest risk depends on source and 
treatment  
Vermicompost   Yes   May include remains of undigested 
organic material. Vermicompost should 
be prepared early as required, and 
treated to eliminate any organism before 
using as a growing medium.  
 
  
10 
  
This annex is a prescriptive part of the standard.  
 
ANNEX 2: Examples of growing media and the measures that may effectively manage 
their pest risk when associated with plants for planting  
Growing medium   Water and 
nutrients   Measures   Examples   
Growing medium 
that has been 
sterilized (e.g. by 
heat to a specified 
temperature for a 
specified duration)   Sterilized, treated 
or filtered water 
supply (free from 
pests)  Maintained in 
conditions to 
prevent pest 
infestation   Plants grown from 
seed under protected 
conditions   
Inert material such 
as perlite or 
vermiculite  Sterilized water -
based nutrient 
solution   Maintained in 
conditions to 
prevent pest 
infestation   Plants for hydroponic 
cultivation where the  
absence of pests can be 
verified   
Tissue culture 
medium   Incorporated in 
sterile medium   Maintained in 
aseptic conditions   Tissue cultured plants 
transported in closed 
containers   
Water   Water or water -
based nutrient 
solution   Sterilized, treated 
or filtered water 
may be required   Plants rooted in water   
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
11 
 This appendix is for reference purposes only and is not a prescriptive part of the standard.   
 
APPENDIX 1: Examples of common combinations of plants for planting and growing 
media moved internationally  
  
Plant type   Growing media   Comments   
Artificially  
dwarfed 
nursery stock   Soil  The plant roots are typically very difficult to wash free 
from soil. The plants may be transplanted to soil -free 
growing media and grown in greenhouses using 
integrated risk mitigation measures in an effort to 
minimize the pest risk associated with them.   
Bare root 
nursery stock   Soil or none   Bare root is a technique of arboriculture whereby a 
field-grown tree or shrub is dug to be placed in a 
dormant state. The nursery stock may be shaken to 
remove some of the soil, or it may be washed free from 
all soil and growing media. The size and root st ructure 
of the plant and the type of soil has a large impact on 
whether soil can be removed from the root system.   
Dormant 
bulbs and 
tubers, 
tuberous 
roots and 
herbaceous 
perennial 
roots   Soil, peat or none   Bulbs, tubers (including corms and rhizomes), tuberous 
roots and herbaceous perennial roots are generally 
propagated and grown in fields but shipped dormant and 
free from growing media. However, dormant bulbs may 
sometimes be packed as "growing kits", with growing 
media. These growing media may be considered as a 
separate commodity (packing material) provided the 
plants are not rooted in the media.  
Epiphytic 
plants   Tree fern slabs, bark, 
non-viable moss 
(sphagnum), volcanic 
cinder, rock   Epiphytic plants, such as bromeliads and orchids, are 
often shipped in association with tree fern slabs, bark, 
wood, coconut husk, coconut fibre, non -viable moss 
(sphagnum), volcanic cinder, rock and so forth. These 
materials are generally intended for sup port and 
ornamentation rather than being true growing media.   
Liners, whips   Various (including 
peat, vermiculite, soil 
as a contaminant)   These young plants are generally rooted in soil or in 
soil-free growing media in containers or trays.  
Ornamental 
and flowering 
houseplants   Various (including 
synthetic media, 
vermiculite, perlite, 
coco peat)   The plants may be field -grown in soil, grown as 
containerized nursery stock, or grown as potted 
greenhouse plants in soil -free growing media  
Plants grown 
from seed   Various (including 
peat, vermiculite, 
perlite)   Annuals and biennials are generally grown from seed in 
growing media and moved as rooted in growing media   
12 
 Plant type   Growing media   Comments   
Plants rooted 
in water or 
waterbased 
nutrient 
solution   Water or water -based 
nutrient solution  Some plants may be grown from cuttings in water or in 
waterbased nutrient solution, with or without synthetic 
growing media  
Rooted 
herbaceous 
cuttings   Various (including 
peat, coco peat, 
synthetic media, non -
viable moss 
(sphagnum))   Rooted herbaceous cuttings are generally rooted in soil -
free growing media that may be contained in peat -pots 
or coco -pots. The roots are tender and the growing 
media cannot  be removed without injuring the plants.   
Tissue 
cultured 
plants   Sterile, agar -like   Tissue cultured plants are produced in association with 
sterile agarlike growing media. They may be shipped in 
sealed aseptic containers or ex -agar.   
Trees and 
shrubs  Soil  Older trees and shrubs, including specimen trees, are 
often moved in the nursery trade as dug trees or “ball 
and burlap”  
Turf or grass 
sod   Soil  Turf or grass sod contains a large amount of soil  
 
 
 
   
13 
  
 
Dominica Bureau of Standards  
 
Dominica Bureau of Standards is a statutory body established under the Standards Act No. 4 of 
1999 to establish, promote and maintain Standards for:  
a. Improving goods and services produced or used in Dominica;  
b. Processes and practices for ensuring industrial efficiency and development;  
c. Public and industrial welfare, health and safety;  
d. Safeguarding the environment.  
 
The National Standard Council  
 
The Nati onal Standard Council (NSC), a fourteen (14) member Council representing various 
interest groups, is appointed by the Minister responsible for the Dominica Bureau of Standards 
yearly, to guide the policy decision matters of the Bureau and oversee its finan cial management. 
The Council is also responsible for the general administrative affairs of the Dominica Bureau of 
Standards.