The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a notice advising the streamlining of its plant protection program concerning the import, transfer and handling of potentially injurious organisms (PIOs) in Canada. PIOs include invertebrates and micro-organisms that are plant pests or that may be contaminated with plant pests. View the Notice to Industry for complete details.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Invertebrates, including insects, mites, and millipedes;
- Micro-organisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas, and nematodes;
- Terrestrial molluscs, including snails and slugs, of the Class Gastropoda;
- Earthworms;
- Biological control agents (BCAs);
- Pollinators, including all bees other than those belonging to the genus Apis;
- Mushroom spawn for mushroom production;
- Invertebrates and micro-organisms which are living modified organisms or organisms modified through biotechnology and which may be expressing novel traits; and
- Insects which have been rendered sterile for the purpose of release as part of a pest control program.
Directives D-12-02 and D-12-03 provide the import and domestic requirements for PIOs under the Plant Protection Act.
Please direct questions regarding these updates to IAS.EEE@inspection.gc.ca.