APHIS Releases Joint U.S.-Canada 'Perimeter' Plan for Phytosanitary Harmonization
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service released a joint U.S.-Canadian plan aimed at “reinvigoration” of the North American Perimeter Approach (NAPA) initiative for plants on Aug. 9. The U.S. and Canada are attempting to align their phytosanitary import requirements “to the extent possible” through the NAPA initiative. Under the new plan, which is dated July 3, APHIS and its Canadian counterpart, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, will develop a new NAPA framework for cooperation, and develop pilot programs on Chrysanthemum White Rust (CWR) and a revised Greenhouse Certification Program. APHIS is asking for comments by Sept. 27.
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The first part of the plan entails development of a U.S.-Canada ‘”perimeter approach” to plant protection. That could entail streamlining commodity certification processes, APHIS-CFIA coordination on risk management and regulatory oversight, collaboration in developing import requirements, and development of joint standards, including alignment of pre-clearance programs, the plan said.
The second item on the agenda is to create a pilot on coordination of approaches to regulatory oversight of CWR. APHIS and CFIA would closely work together to develop new regulations on CWR for each country. That would include consulting with industry in the U.S. and Canada before any proposal emerges. Under the plan, a proposal would come in 6-12 months, followed by final rule changes in 12-18 months. Lessons learned from the regulatory cooperation would then be applied to a general framework for cooperation, the plan said.
Third, the plan provides for a pilot program to streamline commodity certification processes through a revised Greenhouse Certification Program. That would facilitate trade in low risk greenhouse plants between the U.S. and Canada, the plan said. APHIS and CFIA would come to an agreement on an approved list of plants authorized for shipment under the program, and would develop “detailed, harmonized operational requirements for greenhouses participating in the program.” The plan doesn’t anticipate the pilot would begin for at least another 18 months.
APHIS is asking for comments on the plan by Sept. 27. Comments should address issues like:
- How and when would you, as a stakeholder, like to be engaged in the process of identification and prioritization of projects under this framework?
- What specific areas of plant health programs would benefit from closer cooperation between Canada and the U.S.?
- Are there differences between specific U.S. and Canada plant health regulatory policies that are creating unnecessary financial or technical burdens for your industry or sector?
- What are some advantages or disadvantages associated with deepening bilateral cooperation in North America?