The CanadianFood Inspection Agency (CFIA), in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and partner organizations, such as the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC), has developed a new voluntary biosecurity standard that will help protect Canada’s fruit and tree nut industry from plant pests and diseases.
The standard for the fruit tree and nut industry:
- provide guidelines for biosecurity, including prevention and integrated pest management;
- promote a consistent approach across the country for mitigating the risks with clear guidelines for effective biosecurity;
- enhance industry’s knowledge of the risks associated with pests and diseases; and
- help identify potential gaps in current biosecurity measures.
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.