Vol. 143, No. 26 — December 23, 2009

Registration

SOR/2009-326 December 10, 2009

PLANT PROTECTION ACT

ARCHIVED — Regulations Amending and Repealing Certain Regulations made under the Plant Protection Act (Miscellaneous Program)

P.C. 2009-1980 December 10, 2009

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, pursuant to section 47 (see footnote a) of the Plant Protection Act (see footnote b), hereby makes the annexed Regulations Amending and Repealing Certain Regulations made under the Plant Protection Act (Miscellaneous Program).

REGULATIONS AMENDING AND REPEALING CERTAIN REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE PLANT PROTECTION ACT (MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAM)

PLANT PROTECTION REGULATIONS

1. The definitions “analyse du risque phytosanitaire” and “quarantaine” in section 2 of the French version of the Plant Protection Regulations (see footnote 1) are replaced by the following:

« analyse du risque phytosanitaire » Analyse du risque phytosanitaire effectuée par le ministre conformément aux principes énoncés dans les Normes internationales pour les mesures phytosanitaires, Section 1 — Réglementation à l’importation, Directives pour l’analyse du risque phytosanitaire de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture, avec ses modifications successives — sauf la définition de « parasite » qui s’y trouve et qui est remplacée par la définition de ce terme prévue à l’article 3 de la Loi — aux fins suivantes :

a) établir si une chose soit est un parasite, soit est parasitée ou susceptible de l’être, soit encore constitue ou peut constituer un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire;

b) recommander, le cas échéant, les mesures nécessaires :

(i) pour prévenir l’introduction ou la propagation au Canada ou à partir du Canada d’un parasite ou d’un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire,

(ii) pour assurer la lutte antiparasitaire ou l’élimination du parasite ou d’un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire;

c) établir si une chose qui est un parasite ou un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire a des effets négatifs importants sur l’environnement;

d) réduire au minimum la dégradation de l’environnement en ce qui concerne la flore canadienne. (pest risk assessment)

« quarantaine » Isolement d’une chose pendant une période donnée, notamment à l’une des fins suivantes :

a) observer, inspecter, tester ou analyser la chose afin d’établir si soit elle est un parasite, soit elle est parasitée ou susceptible de l’être, soit encore elle constitue ou peut constituer un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire;

b) prévenir la propagation d’un parasite ou d’un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire. (quarantine)

2. Section 3 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

3. An inspector may, as appropriate in the circumstances for the purpose of eradicating a pest or preventing its spread, take one or more of the actions that the inspector is authorized to take under the Act or any regulation or order made under the Act if

(a) after a pest risk assessment, the Minister or an inspector believes on reasonable grounds that a thing is a pest, or a thing or place is or could be infested or constitutes or could constitute a biological obstacle to the control of a pest; and

(b) the Minister determines that it is necessary and cost-justifiable to take pest control measures.

3. Subsection 11(1) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

11. (1) Lorsque le ministre ou l’inspecteur a des motifs raisonnables de croire qu’une chose est un parasite ou qu’il faut un certain temps pour établir si une chose soit est un parasite, soit est parasitée ou susceptible de l’être, soit encore constitue ou peut constituer un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire, l’inspecteur peut exiger que la chose soit mise en quarantaine.

4. Subsection 20(4) of the Regulations is repealed.

5. Subsection 21(4) of the Regulations is repealed.

6. The portion of subsection 24(1) of the French version of the Regulations before paragraph ( a ) is replaced by the following:

24. (1) Lorsque l’inspecteur saisit et retient une chose en vertu de l’article 27 de la Loi :

7. Subsection 29(7) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(7) Une chose visée au paragraphe (1) peut être importée sans certificat phytosanitaire étranger ni certificat phytosanitaire étranger pour réexportation lorsque le ministre établit, en se fondant sur une analyse du risque phytosanitaire, que la chose n’est pas un parasite ou n’est pas parasitée ou soupçonnée de l’être ou ne constitue pas ou ne peut constituer un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire.

8. Subsection 31(2) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(2) La demande de permis n’a pas à contenir les renseignements visés aux alinéas (1)c), e), g), h) et k) lorsque le ministre a établi que ces renseignements ne sont pas nécessaires pour évaluer le risque d’introduction ou de propagation au Canada d’un parasite ou d’un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire.

9. Subsection 32(1) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

32. (1) Lorsque le ministre a des motifs raisonnables de croire, en se fondant sur une analyse du risque phytosanitaire, que l’importation d’une chose entraînera ou est susceptible d’entraîner l’introduction ou la propagation au Canada d’une chose qui soit est un parasite, soit est parasitée ou susceptible de l’être, soit encore constitue ou peut constituer un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire, le ministre délivre le permis à l’égard de cette chose s’il établit que toutes les mesures nécessaires peuvent être prises et seront prises pour prévenir l’introduction ou la propagation au Canada d’un parasite ou d’un obstacle biologique à la lutte antiparasitaire.

10. (1) Subsection 34(1) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

34. (1) Quiconque importe une chose en vertu d’un permis est tenu de respecter toutes les conditions qui y sont énoncées.

(2) Subsection 34(3) of the Regulations is amended by adding “or” at the end of paragraph (a), by striking out “or” at the end of paragraph (b) and by repealing paragraph (c).

(3) Subparagraph 34(4)(b) of the Regulations amended by adding “or” at the end of subparagraph (i), by striking out “or” at the end of subparagraph (ii) and by repealing subparagraph (iii).

11. Paragraph 44(a) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

a) est un parasite ou est parasité ou soupçonné de l’être;

12. Subsection 45(1) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

45. (1) A Movement Certificate may contain conditions specified by the Minister or an inspector that are necessary to prevent the spread of a pest or biological obstacle to the control of a pest and may specify a period of validity.

13. Section 47 of the Regulation is replaced by the following:

47. For the purposes of subsection 6(2) of the Act, the inspector’s authorization may be in the form of a Movement Certificate.

14. Section 57 of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

57. Nul ne peut exporter ou réexporter du Canada une chose qui n’est pas conforme au droit relatif aux exigences phytosanitaires d’importation du pays importateur.

POTATO WART COMPENSATION REGULATIONS

15. The Potato Wart Compensation Regulations (see footnote 2) are repealed.

COMING INTO FORCE

16. These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Issues and objectives

This regulatory amendment package makes minor amendments to the Plant Protection Regulations (the “Regulations”), which is administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and addresses comments provided by the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (SJC). This package also repeals the Potato Wart Compensation Regulations (SOR/2001-451) which is also administered by the CFIA.

Description and rationale

The majority of the amendments are editorial changes and are being made to ensure consistency between the English and French versions of the Regulations. Other minor amendments are being made in part to address comments received by the SJC. These amendments will not make any substantive change to the Regulations.

In addition, the Potato Wart Compensation Regulations (SOR/ 2001-451) are being repealed as they have expired.

There are no anticipated additional costs to the CFIA, industry or consumers as a result of these amendments.

The Plant Protection Regulations

For consistency between the English and French versions of the Regulations, minor amendments are being made to section 2, subsections 11(1), 29(7), 31(2) and 32(1). In addition, to address comments received by the SJC, amendments are also being made to sections 3, 47, 57; subsections 24(1), 34(1), 45(1); paragraphs 44(a), 34(3)(a) and (b); and subparagraphs 34(4)(b)(i) and (ii). Subsections 20(4), 21(4); paragraph 34(3)(c); and subparagraph 34(4)(b)(iii) are being repealed. These amendments are described in greater detail below.

The definition of “analyse du risque phytosanitaire” in the French version of section 2 of the Regulations is being amended to replace the phrase “prévoir la lutte antiparasitaire” with “assurer la lutte antiparasitaire” for consistency between the English and French versions of the Regulations.

In addition, the words “afin de” in the definition of “analyse du risque phytosanitaire” in section 2 of the French version of the Regulations are replaced with the words “aux fins suivantes” for consistency between the French and English versions.

In section 3 of the Regulations, the phrase “an inspector shall [...] take one or more actions” is modified to read “an inspector may [...] take one or more actions.” The change of wording from a “shall” to a “may” is being made to address the SJC’s concern that the inspector’s discretion was unnecessarily restricted. The Committee’s concern was that this provision required action if, “after a pest risk assessment, the Minister or an inspector believes on reasonable grounds that a thing is a pest, or a thing or place is or could be infested or constitutes or could constitute a biological obstacle to the control of a pest, and the Minister determines that, in the circumstances, it is necessary and cost-justifiable to take pest control measures [...].” The structure of section 3 has also been modified to create two new paragraphs. The creation of the two new paragraphs does not modify the substance of the section but is intended to improve the overall clarity of the section.

The French version of subsection 24(1) is amended from “saisit ou retient” to read “saisit et retient” for consistency with the English version of the Regulations.

In the French version of subsection 34(1), the use of the words “conformément à un permis” will be replaced with the words “en vertu d’un permis” for consistency between the English and French versions.

The words “parasitée” and “soupçonnée” in the French version of paragraph 44(a) are currently drafted in the feminine and are replaced with the masculine “parasité” and “soupçonné” in order to bring them into agreement with the words “chose” and “véhicule.” The current wording of paragraph of 44(a) states: “a des motifs raisonnables de croire que la chose ou le véhicule [...] est un parasite ou est prasitée [sic] ou soupçonnée [sic] de l’être.”

Subsection 45(1) of the Regulations provides that a Movement Certificate may contain such conditions as the Minister or an inspector “determines” are necessary to prevent the spread of a pest or biological obstacle to the control of a pest. The subsection is amended to address the SJC’s concern that the word “determines” confers a level of subjectivity. The revised provision will now read as follows: “A Movement Certificate may contain conditions specified by the Minister or an inspector that are necessary to prevent the spread of a pest or biological obstacle to the control of a pest and may specify a period of validity.”

Section 47 is being amended at the request of the SJC to clarify that the inspector’s authorization may be in the form of a Movement Certificate.

The words “que si celle-ci respecte le” in the French version of section 57 of the Regulations are replaced by the words “qui n’est pas conforme au” to improve the sentence structure in the French version.

At the request of the SJC, subsections 20(4) and 21(4) of the Regulations are repealed because they are considered redundant in light of section 49 of the Plant Protection Act which already provides for fines and terms of imprisonment for anyone who fails to comply with a notice communicated to the person under the Regulations.

At the request of the SJC, paragraph 34(3)(c) is being repealed because it is considered redundant with 34(3)(b) of the Regulations which already allows the Minister to revoke or to refuse to issue a permit where the Minister determines that the person has not complied with “any provision of the Act or any regulation or order made thereunder.” Furthermore, subsection 34(3) of the Regulations is amended by adding “or” at the end of paragraph (a) and by striking out “or” at the end of paragraph (b).

Similarly, at the request of the SJC, subparagraph 34(4)(b)(iii) is repealed because it is considered by the SJC to be redundant with subparagraph 34(4)(b)(ii) of the Regulations which already allows for the Minister to revoke or to refuse to issue a permit to a person “where the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that [...] the person has not complied with [...] any provision of the Act or any regulation or order made thereunder [...].” Furthermore, subparagraph 34(4)(b) of the Regulations is amended by adding “or” at the end of subparagraph (i) and by striking out “or” at the end of subparagraph (ii).

In the definitions of “pest risk assessment” and “quarantine” in section 2 and subsections 11(1), 29(7), 31(2) and 32(1), the word “déterminer” has been removed and replaced with the word “établir” for accuracy in the French version of the Regulations.

The Potato Wart Compensation Regulations

The Potato Wart Compensation Regulations (SOR/2001-451) (the “PWC Regulations”) are being repealed as they have expired. The PWC Regulations applied to growers who received a notice in the years 2000 and 2001. The growers who received such notices have all filed applications and received compensation. The repeal of PWC Regulations does not affect a grower’s eligibility to receive compensation under the Potato Wart Compensation Regulations, 2003 (SOR/2004-211).

Consultation

As the amendments to the Regulations are minor and administrative in nature, it was determined that consultation was not necessary.

No consultation was conducted on the repeal of the PWC Regulations given that they no longer serve their intended purpose and a compensation program under the Potato Wart Compensation Regulations, 2003 continues to exist.

Implementation, enforcement and service standards

These amendments are minor and do not make any substantive changes. The amendments will not affect the CFIA’s current enforcement activities. As these amendments are administrative in nature, there is no implementation plan required.

Contact

Jaqueline Michielli
Senior Regulatory Policy Officer
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
1400 Merivale Road, Tower 2
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0Y9
Telephone: 613-773-5883
Fax: 613-773-5960
Email: Jaqueline.Michielli@inspection.gc.ca

Footnote a
S.C. 1993, c. 34, s. 103

Footnote b
S.C. 1990, c. 22

Footnote 1
SOR/95-212

Footnote2
SOR/2001-451

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