Exports of fresh tomato and pepper fruit to Japan must now be certified free from the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli. The following new requirements are in addition to any phytosanitary requirements currently in place:
- Canadian tomato or pepper fruit for export to Japan must be grown in a greenhouse that has a control program in place for plant pests, including Bactericera cockerelli.
- The fruit must be visually inspected to ensure that no Bactericera cockerelli larvae or adults are present on the fruit.
- If Bactericera cockerelli is detected during inspection, a post-harvest treatment must be applied. The treatment details and date must be included on the phytosanitary certificate.
- The phytosanitary certificate must include the following additional declaration: “Fulfills item 6 of the Annexed Table 2-2 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Plant Protection Act (MAF Ordinance No73/1950)”.
For more information, contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.