d-12-02 plant protection import requirements for living organisms other than plants micro-organisms and invertebrates including biological control agents tropical butterflies earthworms pollinators snails and slugs the canadian food inspection cfia is proposing to revise its import requirements for all living organisms other than plants which may be injurious or potentially injurious whether directly or indirectly to plants or to products or by-products of plants. this document notifies draft general import requirements for all living organisms other than plants including for shipping and handling associated material imported with the living organism and for organisms that may only be imported into canada under containment. appendix 1 of the document lists living organisms end uses and origins that are already approved and indicates whether or not a plant protection permit to import or other certification is required. prior approval from the cfia will be required for unapproved living organisms new end uses or new origins. in these cases importers must apply for a plant protection permit to import which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if an import permit is required and whether additional import conditions are necessary to mitigate phytosanitary risk. the document proposes additional import requirements for specific groups of organisms or end-uses e.g. non-indigenous biological control agents and non-apis pollinating insects not yet approved for release earthworms etc. as well as outlines the process for applying for approval for the first environmental release of non-indigenous biological control agents and non-apis pollinating insects. this directive merges and replaces the following d-96-14 import requirements for invertebrates and microorganisms d-00-04 plant protection import requirements for earthworms cfia import operational directive regarding the entry of terrestrial snails into canada 2 march 1990 please note that living organisms not regulated under the plant protection act may be regulated under another federal or provincial act or regulation