Gypsy Moth - Urgent Advisory
Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 March 2013 15:55
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) continue to issue urgent notices to industry to update industry on the increasing spread of Asian Gypsy Moth in the Far East. The United States and Canadian authorities have intercepted live Asian gypsy moth (AGM) egg masses on an unprecedented number of commercial ships calling on west coast ports this season. Last year on the West Coast, at 21 certified ships selected for audit inspections were found with viable egg masses. Japan experienced a population outbreak of Asian Gypsy Moth last season and significiant numbers of egg masses were removed from the ships during their pre-departure inspections. This year CFIA and USDA are emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the pre-departure inspections are conducted as close to departure as possible. Ship's crew are asked to inspect the ship en route and remove any egg masses prior to arriving in US and Canadian waters.
The Asian Gypsy Moth Policy (D-95-03) clarifies the regulated areas in Russia, Japan, China and Korea and the current high risk period in Canada which is now March 1 to September 15th.
Vessels are required to provide to CFIA with 96-hour advance notice of arrival, a list of the ports of call over the past two years and a copy of a recognized Phytosanitary Certificates confirming that the vessel was inspected for Asian Gypsy Moth prior to departure. In British Columbia, notices should sent to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Vessels en-route to Canada that do not have the required pre-departure phytosanitary certificate from the last regulated port visited within the two years will be require a CFIA inspection and approval prior to proceeding to its Canadian port of call. Vessels that are non-compliant will not only encounter delays in their passage to a Canadian port, but they will also incur a penalty of $10,000 under the Plant Protection Act.
The Chamber of Shipping continues discussion with CFIA on program improvements particularly in view of the level of non-compliance this season and the significant number of egg masses detected on compliant vessels.
Shipping companies are strongly encouraged to instruct all vessel crews to conduct intensive on-board inspection to remove (scrape off) and destroy all egg masses prior to entering U.S. and Canadian ports. The moths are attracted to the ship's lighting and will lay egg masses any where on the vessel superstructure and where doors were open while in port.
Egg masses may also found on the lines used to moor the vessel, extra lines laying on the deck, very high on the vessel super structure, on air intake vents, vessel smoke stack, on the tracks used for crane movement, on the outside hull, on a container stored on the deck, and inside a wheel/tool house or room on the aft deck. The egg masses will also be seen throughout the vessel meaning on the aft deck, starboard and port sides of the deck and housing, on the bow, and on the main deck and upper decks of the main super structure, cargo hold framing, and other vessel framing including safety rails. The outside of containers must also be inspected.
To help mitigate the risk of infestation, ships are also encouraged to use minimal lighting in the regulated ports after the inspection in conducted.
CFIA has also released a Gypsy Moth Inspectional Pocket Guide for vessels that have called the high risk areas. The Guide provides helpful instructions to vessel crew on what the egg masses look like, where they might be found on vessels, and how the eggs should be removed.
The following resources are available for download:
Asian Gypsy Moth Policy (D-95-03)
Additional resources are available in the Files & Download section on our website.
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