Guidance Document 5
Emerald ash borer (EAB) was first identified in Minnesota in May 2009. It is a serious pest that has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the United States, causing significant environmental damage with economic costs. For this reason, EAB is a regulated pest that involves restrictions at the state level.
The MDA has established a plant pest quarantine for EAB in Minnesota. To view the most current quarantine boundaries, visit the EAB Status map.
Regulated articles may not be moved out of a quarantine area, whether treated or untreated, unless they are accompanied by an MDA certificate. Certificates are issued only after a Compliance Agreement (CA) is signed between the MDA and the entity (company, city, county, agency, or organization) that plans to move regulated material.
For more detailed information on the EAB quarantine and Compliance Agreement, see Questions & Answers about the EAB quarantine & Compliance Agreements
An MDA certificate allows treated regulated material to move outside of a quarantine area once it meets approved treatment standards.
Usage of the MDA Certificate
The MDA certificate is issued to a firm operating under an active Compliance Agreement. It allows the movement of treated regulated articles to be exported out of a quarantine area year-round.
Approved treatment methods and requirements are outlined in Compliance Agreement attachments A1-A8. The MDA Certificate verifies that the plant product has been treated to standards that reduce the risk of spreading EAB.
The MDA certificate will be assigned to an entity after a Compliance Agreement has been signed, and all relevant procedures have been completed. Certification inspections by agency officials must be carried out prior to beginning treatment operations of regulated articles, or whenever a malfunction or alteration in the facility system warrants a certification inspection. Certification will be granted by agency officials based on:
- The facility's ability to meet treatment requirements
- Export safeguards that prevent re-infestation of treated wood
Once approved, the facility must sign a Compliance Agreement with the certifying agency. For Compliance Agreements with the state of Minnesota, the MDA certificate is included as part of the Compliance Agreement.
The certificate must be attached to or displayed with every shipment in the manner prescribed for the particular situation of the facility.
- Bulk products: MDA certificate must appear on the delivery ticket
- Packaged products: MDA certificate must appear on each separate bundle.
Treated regulated material will require the MDA Certificate to be attached after treatment. It can be attached to the bill of lading, invoice, load ticket or separate packages of treated material.
If treated material is mixed (comingled) with unregulated material, the entire lot is considered regulated and must have the certificate attached to the lot.
Each load of regulated articles must be accompanied by a certificate to its destination. All regulated materials travelling with a certificate must be treated prior to export out of a quarantine area.
All use of MDA-issued certificates must be thoroughly documented, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Lot Number
- Treatment completion (m/d/y/time)
- Treatment facility (name or number)
- Shipment date (m/d/y)
- Consignee (company name and address)
- Inspected by (full name of in-house staff)
- Quantity of certificates used
The MDA will provide an electronic spreadsheet for tracking this information (see attachment A; Certificate Usage Record).
General Requirements
For information about MDA-approved receiving facilities, see Compliance Agreements for the EAB Quarantine.
Certificates:
- May not be altered, counterfeited, improperly obtained or improperly used
- Are non-transferable to another person or location
If a third party (e.g. a distributer) uses the certificate, the name and address of the MDA certificate holder must be printed directly next to the certificate (above, below, or beside it). Certificates must be accompanied with the point of origin and destination clearly indicated on the bill of lading or other shipping documents.
Companies may use a unique identifier to code shipment destinations. However, if there is a failed treatment, failed inspection, or revocation of the MDA certificate, the company must provide the MDA with a complete list of identifiers and corresponding company information.
If a certificate is revoked or an inspection fails, the MDA may request destination and shipment date information for all woody material, whether treated or untreated.
