The objectives of the Plant Protection program within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are to prevent the introduction and spread within Canada of plant pests of quarantine significance, to detect and control or eradicate designated plant pests in Canada, and to certify plants and plant products for domestic and export trade.

Surveys support the Plant Protection Program in a number of ways. They help to detect new populations of quarantine pests or potential quarantine pests being considered for regulation. Delimitation surveys are also conducted to determine the range of pest populations with limited distributions in Canada (ISPM no 08). Surveillance data allows Canada to maintain claims of Pest Free Area (ISPM no 04), Pest Free Place of Production & Pest Free Production Site (ISPM no 10) status, and supports our ability to meet a number of international phytosanitary standards under the International Plant Protection Convention. Surveys provide information in support of import, export and domestic regulatory programs. They are a key contribution to policy development and trade negotiations. In all cases, reliable and accurate pest distribution data provides the basis for sound regulatory decisions. The information may be used for a variety of purposes, including reasons for removing, altering, or even not establishing a quarantine regulation. Plant pest surveys are also an integral part of control and eradication programs (ISPM no 09).

The executive summary of the report is available on the CFIA website.