Canada Implements New Voluntary Biosecurity Standard For Greenhouse Industry

Emerald Ash Borer

Canada’s new voluntary biosecurity standard is is designed to protect the greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture industries from invasive plant pests. Photo credit: David Cappaert, Michigan State University

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), in conjunction with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and affiliated organizations, has completed a new voluntary biosecurity standard that is designed to protect Canada’s greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture industries from invasive plant pests.

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In 2014, the CFIA came together with AAFC, provincial governments, and sector organizations to form the Greenhouse, Nursery and Floriculture Biosecurity Advisory Committee (GNFBAC). Now, after nearly two years of collaboration, the GNFBAC has completed a farm-level biosecurity standard for the Canadian greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture sectors. Three sector-specific producer guidance documents that will support the new standard are currently under development.

This voluntary standard will:
• Provide guidelines for biosecurity, including prevention and integrated pest management
• Promote a consistent approach for managing risks of plant pests
• Improve the greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture sector’s knowledge of the risks associated with plant pests
• Help identify gaps in current biosecurity procedures.

The standard can be adopted in its entirety or can supplement existing on-farm biosecurity programs. Funding to develop this standard has been provided under the Growing Forward 2 Agricultural Policy Framework.

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For more information, contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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