The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), in conjunction with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and industry organizations, such as the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC), has completed a new voluntary biosecurity standard to help protect Canada’s greenhouse, nursery and floriculture sectors from plant pests.
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; and
- help identify gaps in current biosecurity procedures.
The CHC on behalf of Canadian greenhouse producers approves the National Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard for the Greenhouse, Nursery and Floriculture Industries. The CHC, through representation on the Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Biosecurity Advisory Committee, has contributed significantly to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) initiative to develop a voluntary National Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard for the Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Industries. We were joined in this effort by representatives from across Canada and from grower groups, provincial government and academics alike.
The CHC wishes to express our sincerest appreciation and thanks to the CFIA staff dedicated to this initiative as well as all other members of the Advisory Committee who worked diligently to accomplish the Standard. One of the compelling reasons the CHC accepted the Standard was the approach taken in its development, which was a collaborative effort between industry and the CFIA.