There is a
ban going into effect Thursday on shipping Ontario cherries to British
Columbia.
Shipments
to all other provinces will be allowed only upon obtaining a certificate from
the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
The
restrictions are to prevent the spread of the European cherry fruit fly.
The CFIA
says “the European cherry fruit fly is a harmful plant pest that can have devastating
effects on cherry crops.”
The movement restrictions will apply to fresh cherries,
including sweet cherries, sour cherries, mahaleb cherries and black cherries
produced in Ontario.
The restrictions do not apply to processed cherries or nursery
stock.
The CFIA can be asked to provide a Movement Certificate for
shipments to provinces other than B.C. certifying that the cherries are free
from cherry fruit flies.
“Shipments without a Movement Certificate or that are
infested with cherry fruit fly will be returned to Ontario or destroyed,” says
the CFIA.
“The directive will remain in place indefinitely to prevent
the movement and spread of European cherry fruit fly in Canada and the United
States.”
