Wednesday, 8th September 2010
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its policy in respect of the Asian Gypsy Moth.
There are a number of significant changes to the policy: -
- All ports in Northern China, the Republic of Korea and Japan are now considered high risk or regulated areas.
- Vessels arriving from high risk areas are required to report to CFIA 96 hours in advance of arrival
- Provide a list of ports of call for the past 2 years
- Provide a copy of a Phytosanitary or other approved certificate issued at the port of departure.
Vessels arriving from the newly regulated areas will not be subject to fines should they not have a Phytosanitary certificate before 2012.
It is understood that both China and Korea have begun to roll out programs for inspection that are acceptable to CFIA.
Please click here for the CFIA revised policy document.
Source: BIMCO
The US Department of Agriculture has published an Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) advisory notice. US and Canadian authorities have intercepted live AGM egg masses on a large number of commercial marine vessels in 2008 and 2009.
In all cases, delays in cargo loading and routine clearance were significant. Incidents can be avoided by adherence to pre-departure certification and/or performance of vessel self-inspections involving the removal and destruction of all AGM egg masses and other life stages prior to port arrival in the United States and Canada.
Page two of the notice contains recommendations for vessels "...which have called ports in CHINA; KOREA: JAPAN, & Far East RUSSIA anytime during period of JUNE through SEPTEMBER."
The USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service's (Plant Protection & Quarantine) document entitled "Gypsy Moth Inspectional Pocket Guide" has also been reissued.
North America - US and Canadian officials believe that AGM populations in Japan and other areas of Northeast Asia have risen significantly during 2008 and expect this trend to continue through 2009. In the course of 2008 a total of 10 vessels were ordered out of US or Canadian ports into international waters due to severe infestation by AGM for cleaning/removal of viable egg masses.
It has been advised that, where vessels originating from high risk ports do not have the necessary official certification showing the vessel to be AGM free, the authorities will look favourably on proactive efforts by the vessels to identify and remove infestations. The USDA have produced a pocket guide that may assist vessel crews in carrying out their own inspections for AGM egg masses. The process should consist of (a) maintaining a protocol and procedure for the inspection of the superstructure and containers or cargo holds for AGM egg masses and (b) producing a log showing when such inspections took place.
Alternatively the authorities would also look favourably upon efforts by vessels to utilise professional contractors in the USA and Canada to conduct an AGM inspection and removal. However, as this program is new there is as yet no list of approved inspectors.
It should be understood that the authorities will reserve the right to conduct their own inspections irrespective of any proactive action taken by the vessel.
Click here for the latest USDA/CFIA advisory notice.
Click here for the USDA pocket guide for AGM inspections.
US - Concerned about a possible Japanese AGM population spike, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an advisory notice following the interception of live Asian Gypsy Moth egg masses by Customs and Border Protection inspectors on seven vessels in recent weeks.
The USDA have described the period of risk from flight and infestation ranges from the 1st of June to the 15th of August in Southern Japan and from the 15th of July to the 1st of October in Northern Japan and Far East Russia. China and Korea are reported to have similar flight periods of risk.
Click here for the USDA advisory notice
Russian Far East ports to New Zealand
The NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has announced that all sea containers originating from ports in the Russian Far East will be held for inspection to prevent Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) from entering New Zealand.
Containers from the following ports will be held: Posyet; Vladivostok; Nakhodka; Vostochny; Olga; Plastun; Svetlaya; Vanino; De Kastri; Nikolayevsk; Korsakov; Nevelsk; Slavyanka