The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently issued a joint notice urging the maritime industry to collaborate with U.S. and Canadian authorities in their on-going efforts to prevent the introduction of the Asian gypsy moth, a major quarantine pest that has reportedly defoliated over one million acres of forest every year since 1980. The notice states that AGM is a serious pest that can be carried on the superstructure of ships and cargo and that AGM populations are prevalent in some seaport areas in Far East Russia, Japan, Korea and northern mainland China. U.S. and Canadian authorities intercepted a number of vessels with AGM egg masses in 2013 and many of those vessels were ordered into international waters to mitigate the risk of introduction.

The two agencies warn that significant delays in cargo loading or discharging activities and routine clearance may occur if vessels arrive in the United States or Canada without the required AGM certification or upon detection of this destructive pest. This may result in significant loss of revenue to the shipping line and any associated parties.

The notice indicates that the measures described below are required for vessels that have called on areas regulated for AGM during certain specified periods. This includes vessels that have called on all ports in northern mainland China, including all ports north of Shanghai, during the period ranging from 1 June to 30 September.

• Vessels must be inspected and must obtain pre-departure certification from a recognised certification body. A copy of the certificate stating that the vessel is free of AGM life stages must be forwarded to their U.S or Canadian agents. The inspections should be performed as close to vessel departure time from the regulated port as possible.

• Vessels must arrive in North American ports free from AGM. To avoid inspection delays, re-routing and other potential impacts associated with mitigating the risk of entry of AGM to North America, shipping lines should perform intensive vessel self-inspections to look for, remove (scrape off) and properly dispose of or destroy all egg masses and other life stages of AGM prior to entering U.S. and Canadian ports.

• Vessels must provide two year port of call data, at least 96 hours prior to arrival in a North American port, to the Canadian or U.S. agent. The agent is to ensure that this information is provided to U.S. and Canadian officials.

The notice emphasises that it is the responsibility of the shipping line to meet all requirements for entry into the United States and Canada for freedom from AGM and other pest concerns. U.S. and Canadian authorities consider the risk of introduction of AGM into North America from Far East Russia, Japan, Korea and northern mainland China to be high for 2014 and are therefore urging the maritime sector to "take all possible precautions."

It is important to note that that upon arrival in North America there have been AGM detections on vessels that obtained pre-departure certification. Where certification has been issued many days prior to ship departure from an area regulated for AGM, re-infestation can occur. Therefore, USDA and CFIA urge maritime interests to conduct inspection and certification as close to time of departure as feasible. A ship's crew should also ensure freedom from AGM by conducting inspection of the ship superstructure while en route to North America and removing and destroying all life stages of AGM detected.