The Canadian P. ramorum Certification program, developed by the BCLNA and CNLA in conjunction with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries, is designed to minimize the risk of Canadian or USA nurseries receiving or spreading P. ramorum.

The P. ramorum Certification program is presently voluntary for all Canadian growers. The program is a process based certification program that includes:

• sampling and testing of stock
• mandatory workshop training
• implementation of Best Management Practices
• an annual audit
  

The Canadian Nursery Certification Institute (CNCI) is the independent Canadian body that administers the P. ramorum program on behalf of the horticulture industry. CNCI, will provide the documentation and audits for qualified nurseries.

The P. ramorum situation across North America is changing rapidly, with both the CFIA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) harmonizing regulations and certification programs. Canada is currently unregulated for P. ramorum with regard to shipping within Canada or to the USA. The reason for this is that the disease has been found in Canada only in a few isolated incidents in British Columbia following three years of extensive CFIA testing. The BC incidents are at a level considerably below some of the unregulated US states. Consequently, only BC growers are participating in the Certification program; it is voluntary since neither CFIA nor USDA regulations require certification for plant movement from any province of Canada.