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D- 95-28: Plant Protection Import and Domestic Movement Requirements for Corn (Zea mays)

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Effective date: April 13, 2022
(7th Revision)

Subject

This directive outlines the phytosanitary import and domestic movement requirements for corn (Zea mays).

This revision was made to:

This document supersedes all previous versions of directive D-95-28.

On this page

Review

This directive will be updated as required. For further information or clarification, please contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Endorsement

Approved by: Chief Plant Health Officer

Amendment record

Amendments of this directive will be dated and distributed as outlined in the distribution below.

Distribution

  1. Directive mail list (Regions, PHRA, USDA)
  2. Provincial Government, Industry (determined by Author)
  3. National Industry Organizations (determined by Author)
  4. Internet

Introduction

The following factors were considered in arriving at the present policy.

To date, the CFIA has regulated only 2 insect pests of corn, that is, European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (ECB), and Durra stem borer, Sesamia cretica (DSB). A Pest Risk Assessment completed in 1995 indicated that these should remain quarantine pests for Canada.

ECB is found in Europe, Africa, western Asia, and North America. It is found in the United States (U.S.) in 42 states, including the major corn-producing states (Appendix 1). In Canada, it is found in all provinces except British Columbia. Therefore, the CFIA regulates ECB only for British Columbia.

DSB is found in east Africa, the Near and Middle East, and in European and African countries on the Mediterranean Sea (Appendix 1). The pest is limited to areas where temperatures rarely fall below 0°C. In Canada the pest would likely only survive in the southern coastal region of British Columbia. Therefore, the CFIA regulates DSB only for British Columbia.

Most shipments of corn entering Canada, particularly those intended for propagation (seed), originate in the U.S. A Pest Risk Assessment identified a number of corn diseases that are found in the U.S. but that have not been reported in Canada (for example, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis and Stenocarpella macrospora). Nevertheless, for decades, corn has entered Canada from the U.S. without any recorded interceptions of these diseases. Therefore, unless future information reveals an increased risk of introduction, the CFIA will not regulate any diseases of corn from the U.S. Head smut of corn, Spacelotheca reiliana, was deregulated in 1988.

In a recent Pest Risk Assessment conducted on corn seed from Hungary, the fungal pathogen Acremonium maydis (syn. Cephalosporium maydis; syn. Harpophora maydis) was identified as a potential quarantine concern for Canada. Although the overall risk of introduction in clean grain is low as the pathogen is rarely seed-borne and associated only with soil or debris, phytosanitary mitigation measures to reduce risk are available and should be considered. These include area freedom, freedom from soil and debris, laboratory testing and/or fungicide treatment.

A Pest Risk Assessment for corn on the cob was completed for Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Thailand. Other such assessments have been done on corn seed from various countries: Austria, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Peru as well as the U.S. state of Hawaii and territory of Puerto Rico.

Scope

This directive is intended for the use of CFIA inspection staff and the Canada Border Services Agency to prevent the introduction and spread of regulated pests into Canada. It is a guide to Canadian import and domestic movement requirements for use by importers, shippers, customs brokers and others involved in importing or moving corn in Canada.

References

Definitions, abbreviations and acronyms

Definitions of terms used in the present document can be found in the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Plant Health Glossary of Terms.

1.0 General requirements

1.1 Legislative authority

1.2 Fees

The CFIA is charging fees in accordance with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice. For information regarding fees associated with imported product, please contact the National Import Service Centre (NISC). Anyone requiring other information regarding fees may contact any local CFIA office or visit our Fees Notice website.

1.3 Regulated pests

In addition to the pests listed above, which could be associated with the regulated commodities, consignments must be free from the other pests on the list of pests regulated by Canada.

1.4 Regulated commodities

1.5 Commodities exempt

The following commodities, from all sources, do not require any phytosanitary documentation (that is, Permit to Import, Phytosanitary Certificate, Domestic Movement Certificate or other documentation):

1.6 Regulated areas

2.0 Specific requirements

The distribution of the European corn borer and Durra stem borer can be found in Appendix 1.

A tabulated summary of import and domestic movement requirements for Zea mays is provided in Appendix 2.

2.1 Import requirements

2.2 Domestic requirements

3.0 Inspection procedures

4.0 Non-compliance

If the requirements for a shipment are not met, the material may be detained, refused entry, returned to origin, treated or destroyed. Expenses associated with such actions are borne by the importer. Refer to D-01-06: Canadian Phytosanitary Policy for the Notification of Non-compliance and Emergency Action.

5.0 Appendices

Appendix 1: Distribution of the European corn borer and the Durra stem borer

A. European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Asia: Georgia (Republic of), Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.

North America:

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Canada: all provinces except British Columbia.

B. Durra stem borer (Sesamia cretica)

Africa: Algeria, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, and Tunisia.

Asia: China, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

Europe: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, the Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain.

Appendix 2: Import and domestic movement requirements for Zea mays

Commodity Canadian province of destination Source country/state Import and/or movement requirements

A. Processed (manufactured or cooked) corn products (for example, corn meal, brewers' meal, corn flour, corn starch, popped corn and corn silage)

Commercially clean dry bulk corn grain or corn grain products that are clearly not intended for planting (for example, popcorn grain for human consumption, corn grain for ethanol production or animal feed)

Artifacts, ornaments and toys made from corn stalks, leaves and/or husks that have been cleaned, bleached, dyed or shellacked

Breeder, foundation or certified corn seed that has been certified by a member of an official certifying agency recognized by the CFIA (for example, the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies [AOSCA] or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] Seed Schemes). Certification documentation (for example, a copy of the seed tag or bulk seed certificate) must be presented at the time of entry into Canada

All provinces All countries None
B. Seed (propagation)
[other than exempt seed described above]
All provinces U.S. (continental), all countries in Central and South America, Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, U.S. state of Hawaii and territory of Puerto Rico none
B. Seed (propagation)
[other than exempt seed described above]
All provinces All other countries ProhibitedTable Note a
C. Screenings; seed or grain for cleaning in Canada All provinces except British Columbia U.S. (continental) Permit to Import and Compliance Agreement (as per D-96-07:Screenings and Grain/Seed for Cleaning)
C. Screenings; seed or grain for cleaning in Canada British Columbia U.S. (continental) ECB infested statesTable Note d Phytosanitary CertificateTable Note b; Permit to Import and Compliance Agreement (as per D-96-07: Screenings and Grain/Seed for Cleaning)
C. Screenings; seed or grain for cleaning in Canada British Columbia U.S. (continental) ECB non-infested states Proof of origin (Phytosanitary CertificateTable Note b or Certificate of Origin); Permit to Import and Compliance Agreement (as per D-96-07: Screenings and Grain/Seed for Cleaning)
C. Screenings; seed or grain for cleaning in Canada All provinces All other countries and U.S. state of Hawaii and territory of Puerto Rico ProhibitedTable Note a
D. Corn on the cob (for example, fresh sweet corn, fresh baby corn) All provinces except British Columbia U.S. (continental) none
D. Corn on the cob (for example, fresh sweet corn, fresh baby corn) British Columbia U.S. (continental) ECB infested statesTable Note d Phytosanitary CertificateTable Note b
D. Corn on the cob (for example, fresh sweet corn, fresh baby corn) British Columbia U.S. (continental) ECB non-infested states Proof of origin (Phytosanitary CertificateTable Note b or Certificate of Origin)
D. Corn on the cob (for example, fresh sweet corn) All provinces Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Thailand none
D. Corn on the cob (for example, fresh sweet corn, fresh baby corn) All provinces All other countries and the U.S. state of Hawaii and territory of Puerto Rico ProhibitedTable Note a
E. Corn stalks (whole or in part), leaves, cobs and husks All provinces except British Columbia U.S. (continental) none
E. Corn stalks (whole or in part), leaves, cobs and husks All provinces except British Columbia Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands Phytosanitary CertificateTable Note b
E. Corn stalks (whole or in part), leaves, cobs and husks British Columbia Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands and U.S. (continental) ECB infested statesTable Note d Phytosanitary CertificateTable Note b
E. Corn stalks (whole or in part), leaves, cobs and husks British Columbia U.S. (continental) ECB non-infested states Proof of origin (Phytosanitary CertificateTable Note b or Certificate of Origin)
E. Corn stalks (whole or in part), leaves, cobs and husks British Columbia From Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, territory of Puerto Rico and South Africa none
E. Corn stalks (whole or in part), leaves, cobs and husks All provinces All other countries ProhibitedTable Note a
F. Shipments within Canada of all regulated corn commodities All provinces except British Columbia All provinces none
F. Shipments within Canada of all regulated corn commodities British Columbia All provinces except BC Movement CertificateTable Note c
G. Fresh baby corn All provinces Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Thailand none
G. Fresh baby corn All provinces India Phytosanitary Certificate
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