| Grower Assisted Inspection Program |
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| Introduction |
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The Grower Assisted Inspection Program, or GAIP, was developed in 2007 by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). The program was developed to help reduce the risk of nursery plants from being infected with Phytophthora ramorum. GAIP’s basic objective is to assist nurseries to self monitor for Phytophthora species and mitigate pathogen problems using appropriate management practices.
The goals of GAIP are the following:
1) prevent the introduction and spread of regulated Phytophthora species on Rhododendron and Camellia plants at participating nurseries,
2) meet or exceed United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS) standards for shipping regulated Phytophthora species, and
3) assure that Rhododendron and Camellia plants shipped by participating nurseries are free from non-regulated aerial Phytophthora species.
The GAIP program will use the best management practices (BMPs), developed by the Horticultural Research Institute’s (HRI) national working group and the best available science to achieve these goals. The selection, use, and official oversight of BMPs and best available science used in the GAIP program will be guided by key concepts of both the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems and the systems approach for plants-for-planting currently being piloted in the United States Nursery Certification Program (USNCP).
The plan will be driven by standard operating procedures detailed in the mitigation manual. These standard operating procedures will be based primarily on the HRI BMPs and best available science with modifications specific to the nursery, as appropriate. Initial training and continuing education of employees as to the overall plan, specific SOPs, new developments and Phytophthora species biology are critical element of the GAIP program.
For more information about the Growers Assisted Inspection Program, please contact the GAIP Auditor, Melissa Lujan, or contact the Plant Division, Oregon Department of Agriculture, by phone (503) 986-4640 or FAX (503) 986-4564.
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| Nursery Objectives |
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Four goals or objectives for nursery growers are listed below:
Goal 1: Management will identify staff that will receive appropriate GAIP training, thru the Oregon State University (OSU) E-Campus Phytophthora training modules. Such staff must take and pass the E-Campus proficiency exam to receive accreditation. Continuing education and periodic renewal of accreditation will also be required.
Goal 2: Conduct a hazard analysis:
- Accredited staff will develop a flow diagram or other written description of their specific production and procurement process(es) and
- Identify the threats, i.e., Phytophthora species that may already exist or be introduced to the process. Also, identify the potential threat pathways, including items such as recycled irrigation water, growing media and buy-ins and
- Identify mitigation measures (best management practices or best available science) and develop a mitigation manual that will describe standard operating procedures in the procurement and production processes to meet goals 1, 2, 3, and 4. The mitigation manual must assure that the mitigation measures employed will meet the goals of the program. These mitigation measures must be auditable. The participant must implement and follow these mitigation measures to be accredited in the GAIP program.
Goal 3: Monitoring procedures must be established for each applicable mitigation measure. The monitoring procedures must produce a record that is auditable and provide exact values whenever possible.
Goal 4: Recordkeeping procedures must be used to track both the development of the nursery’s GAIP plan and the operation of the system. Existing records may be suitable, provided the records include a record of the date and person responsible for the action.
Corrective actions must be established in the event that goals 1, 2, 3, or 4 have not been met. These corrective actions must be standard operating procedures that are auditable and:
- Identify and eliminate the cause of deviation.
- Prevent recurrence of the deviation.
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| ODA Responsibilities |
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The following verification procedures will be established by the ODA to ensure the system is working.
- GAIP plans for each nursery will be validated by official review. Review includes analysis of the manual by ODA and OSU scientists and a facility review by the ODA GAIP auditor.
- Nurseries will be audited to ensure ongoing verification that the plan is effectively meeting program goals. There will be a minimum of two annual audits occurring at the same time as the interim rule inspections and samplings. Audits will include records review, plant inspections and staff interviews.
- Nurseries will also be required to review their individual GAIP plan at least annually to ensure the plan remains up-to-date and valid. The auditor will participate in this review.
- Evaluation of the GAIP pilot (after two years) TBA
- Parallel evaluation of a Pilot BMP program TBA
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