Interception of pine wood nematode in sawn wood from Canada
intIn December 1990 the Plant Quarantine Service of Finland intercepted the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (EPPO A1 List) on a shipment of softwood sawn lumber from Canada at the harbor of Turku. The shipment contained 3 lots from different exporters, one of spruce and the others as mixtures of spruce and pine; only the lots containing· pine were infested. There was clear indication of damage by Monochamus beetles and other unidentified beetles and by bluestain fungi (Ceratocystis spp.).
This is the first interception of B. xylophilus in sawn wood.
The Canadian authorities investigated this incident and Mrs D. Coates Milne, Director of the Plant Protection Division, Plant Health Directorate, Agriculture Canada; provided the EPPO Secretariat with the following explanation:
“We ascertained that two Nova Scotia exporters sold wood to a Finnish buyer whose representative had visited them in Canada. We understand that neither company contacted Agriculture Canada officials for advice on the phytosanitary concerns of Finland. It is also our understanding that a phytosanitary certificate was not required by Finland for lumber. There was therefore, no involvement of the Canadian Phytosanitary Certification Agency.”
“This material was of a type of wood that would have been rejected for export had it been subjected, for example, to the Industry Debarking and Grub Hole Control Certification program which is implemented by Canada to address the United Kingdom's concerns.”
Sources
- National Board of Agriculture, Finland
- Agriculture Canada