U.S.-Canada Greenhouse-Grown Plant Certification Program

For more than 20 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have maintained Greenhouse 

Certification Programs to facilitate the safe trade of greenhouse-grown plants between our 

countries and prevent the spread of regulated plant pests. In 2016, APHIS and CFIA adopted a 

single set of program requirements that strengthen pest mitigation measures based on current risk 

and ensure consistent program delivery across the United States and Canada.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine 

United States Department of Agriculture

What Is the Same?

n The program is established by a Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) between APHIS and CFIA.

n Authorized facilities produce plants under a systems 

approach to meet phytosanitary import requirements 

of Canada and the United States. 

n Plants produced in an authorized facility must meet 

U.S. and Canada entry requirements to be eligible 

for the U.S.-Canada Greenhouse-Grown Plant 

Certification Program (GCP).

n APHIS and CFIA officials audit authorized facilities to 

ensure adherence with GCP requirements and allow 

for corrections as needed. 

n Authorized facilities use an Export Certification Label, 

also called a GCP sticker, in lieu of a phytosanitary 

certificate to ship plants between the United States 

and Canada.

What Has Changed?

n Program Management: APHIS and CFIA will coadminister various aspects of the program to ensure 

consistency, equivalency, and transparency. 

n Equivalent Compliance Agreements: Compliance 

agreements issued to U.S. and Canadian facilities will 

include equivalent requirements.

n Pest Management Plan: Facilities are required to 

have a written Pest Management Plan. Facilities may 

also be required to include detailed procedures, also 

called modules, for specific regulated pests. A Pest 

Management Plan template is provided in Appendix 1 

of the GCP Technical Requirements Document. Go to 

www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/gcp to download the 

template.

n Plant List: The ‘Excluded Plant List’ has been 

eliminated. Instead, authorized facilities will be 

required to maintain a list of plants in production, their 

origin, and the regulated pests associated with each. 

In the United States, APHIS officials will review the 

list with the facility to verify that the plants are eligible 

for the GCP and determine whether specific pest 

mitigation measures (modules) need to be included in 

the Pest Management Plan.

n Interfacility Stamp: Companies that ship plants 

within the United States from one authorized 

facility to another may use an Interfacility Stamp to 

demonstrate that the plants are certified and ready for 

export to Canada. 

n Audits: United States and Canadian auditors will use 

equivalent audit checklists. Auditors will decrease the 

frequency of audits to twice a year for facilities that 

consistently meet GCP requirements.
What You Need To Do

1. Work with APHIS or your State department of 

agriculture to transition to the new GCP.

2. Carefully review the new GCP requirements. There 

are several differences from the current program which 

may affect your facility; not all differences are highlighted 

in this document. Visit www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/

gcp for complete details.

3. Complete an application package. All facilities, 

including those that are participating in the current GCP, 

must complete an application package. The application 

package should include a Pest Management Plan and 

the list of plants in production. Facilities must submit 

the completed application package to APHIS or the 

State department of agriculture. They will review the 

application package and identify any deficiencies that 

must be corrected. To get started, contact your State 

department of agriculture or local APHIS State Plant 

Health Director.

4. Correct any issues identified during your audit. 

APHIS or the State department of agriculture will 

schedule an initial audit of your facility. You will be 

responsible for correcting any problems identified during 

the audit. 

5. Enter into a compliance agreement with APHIS. 

Once all corrective actions are completed, APHIS will 

enter into a compliance agreement with your facility, 

authorizing you to ship under the new GCP. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. PPQ-17-002 • Issued August 2017

For More Information

For more information, visit the U.S.-Canada 

Greenhouse-Grown Plant Certification Program 

Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/gcp or 

contact your local APHIS State Plant Health Director: 

www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/sphd

Please email questions to: RCC@aphis.usda.gov