Non-susceptible Prunus nursery stock will now be permitted, according to recent changes to the certification requirements from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

     The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) re­ports that all shipments (excluding seed) of non-susceptible Prunus nursery stock from PPV affected areas of Canada must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration that all articles were grown in a nursery in Canada and were found to be free of a number of diseases.

     Shipments of Prunus nursery stock from non-affected areas of Canada will be permitted, but must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration that articles were grown in a nursery in Canada and were found to be free of a number of diseases. Shipment of seed from PPV susceptible Prunus remains prohibited. The U.S. requirement states the shipment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration that PPV does not occur in Canada. The CFIA cannot certify this to be the case in all parts of Canada. Seed from non-susceptible Prunus from the non-affected areas will be permitted, with a proper phytosanitary certificate.

     For more information, contact your local CFIA office or visit the USDA web site at www.usda.gov (see U.S. code of Federal Regulations (7)319.37.)