OTTAWA, June 15, 2007 - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and
Agri-food and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board announced today new
regulatory controls to prevent the introduction of light brown apple moth (LBAM) to Canada
from California and other regions of the world where LBAM is found.
Canadas New Government is implementing these measures to protect the
competitiveness and access to foreign markets of Canadian fruits, vegetables and
horticultural products, said Minister Strahl. Further, we must protect our
natural environment, and contribute to the well-being of our citizens by preventing the
introduction of the light brown apple moth and other invasive pests into Canadas
farms and orchards.
Effective June 25, 2007, the imports of LBAM host material from the state of
California, including produce, cut flowers, greenhouse plants and nursery stock, will fall
under these new preventative measures. In addition, import requirements are being
introduced for fresh produce from California to British Columbia where it is believed the LBAM
could thrive due to the warmer winter climate. A detailed list of the import
requirements can be found on the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca
The LBAM has a recorded host range of over 250 plant species which it can damage. The LBAM
host range includes berries, fruits such as peaches, cherries, apples and pears, many
vegetables, forage crops, various weeds, ornamental, nursery and greenhouse plants, cut
flowers, and numerous forest tree species.
The LBAM is a serious invasive pest that does not naturally occur in North America. It
has no known natural enemies in North America and, once established in an area, it can be
very difficult to eradicate. While LBAM poses no threat to human or animal health, it is a
pest of significant economic concern. Both Canada and the U.S. regulate host materials
from off-continent sources to mitigate the possibility of its establishment in North
America. The USDA has already implemented controls regulating the interstate and
intrastate movement of LBAM host material originating within the regulated areas of
California and the entire state of Hawaii.
Canada exports over $2.7 billion in LBAM host materials worldwide annually, some of
which are shipped to countries that regulate LBAM hosts. The introduction of LBAM to
Canada could present a threat to fruit production and to the greenhouse and nursery
industries, as there is a significant risk of LBAM surviving throughout winter in Canada
in protected greenhouse environments.
To meet international obligations for transparency and consistency, the CFIA will apply
the same regulatory control measures to all countries where the pest is known to occur,
including the state of Hawaii.
Preventing and managing invasive species such as LBAM is undertaken by CFIA to
strengthen Canadas long-term competitiveness, protect its natural environment, and
contribute to the well-being of its citizens.
For more information,
please visit the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca.
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For information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
National media relations: 613-228-6682
