OTTAWA, October 13, 2006 - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food, has enacted a Ministerial Order that
establishes a regulated area in Quebec. This Order will control the spread
of Golden Nematode (GN) and remove broader trade restrictions on the entire
Province of Quebec.
The creation of this regulated area protects farmers in Quebec and in
the rest of Canada from the spread of this destructive pest, said
Minister Strahl. It is the next step in the milestone agreement we signed
with the United States last week that improves trade relations between our
countries.
The regulated area
encompasses mainly the Municipality of Saint-Amable and parcels of land in
the immediate area. Within this area, the Order allows the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) to restrict the movement of a number of items
including soil, machinery, nursery stock, plant parts with soil, potatoes,
eggplants and tomatoes.
To limit the growth and spread of GN, these items can no longer be moved within or
outside of the regulated area without meeting specific requirements; and host
crops such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants can no longer be planted within
the regulated area unless authorized by the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency.
The CFIA will
continue to work with other federal departments, the Quebec government,
industry and affected producers to create a long-term management strategy that
allows for agricultural production while continuing to control this infestation
of GN.
Programs are in place to provide producers with financial assistance for
farm income losses. In addition, the Government of Canada continues to work
with industry and the provinces to develop a new, more responsive disaster
assistance program separate from income stabilization programming.
The CFIA is
continuing its investigation of this pest in Quebec. Preliminary analysis
confirms that the pest is widespread within the regulated area. The CFIA will continue to test
soil from fields identified through the investigation and take control measures
when required.
Golden Nematode is a species of PCN that is considered to be a quarantine pest
internationally because it can significantly reduce crop yields of host crops,
such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants. There is no human health risk
associated with this pest.
For more information please visit the CFIA Web site at
www.inspection.gc.ca.
-30-
For detailed
information, see attached backgrounder.
For information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Montréal: (514) 496-6488
National media relations: (613) 228-6682
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(613) 759-7972
1-866-759-7972
Main Page - Potato
Cyst Nematode
