Canadian Food Inspection Agency implements new regulations to prevent spread of emerald ash borer in Ontario and Quebec

Audrey Dixon

OTTAWA , April 28, 2009 (press release) – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is taking decisive action to stop the unintentional spread of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB). New regulations prohibit the movement of ash tree materials and firewood of all species from specific areas of Ontario and Quebec, as this is a key way the beetle is spread.

The movement of potentially infested material is restricted in four new areas that are regulated under Ministerial Orders. In Ontario, these areas include Toronto and surrounding areas, Sault Ste. Marie, and Ottawa and its neighbouring city, Gatineau, Quebec. A new Ministerial Order is also in place for Carignan, Quebec, and its surrounding municipalities.

The CFIA is focusing its efforts on preventing the movement of regulated materials from infested areas to areas where EAB has not been detected. Regulated materials include logs, branches, nursery stock, chips and firewood of all tree species. Those who move these materials from regulated areas without prior permission from the CFIA could face fines and/or prosecution.

Although there have been numerous finds of this pest in Ontario and one location in Quebec, the CFIA continues to work with its partners and stakeholders towards the goal of slowing its spread.


BACKGROUND

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a destructive beetle that has already killed a large number of ash trees in Ontario and northeastern United States, and poses a major economic threat to urban and forested areas of North America.

The EAB was first discovered in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan in 2002. It is believed that it was introduced to North America from eastern Asia in wood packing material in the early 1990s, but went undetected until its population built up to damaging levels.

To limit the spread of EAB, new Ministerial Orders have been enacted. Ministerial Orders restrict the movement of ash tree materials and firewood since people moving these materials is a major way EAB is spread. Specifically, Ministerial Orders prohibit the movement of ash nursery stock, ash trees, ash logs, ash wood, rough lumber and other wood packaging materials from ash, bark, wood chips or bark chips from ash, and firewood from all tree species that has not been treated to eliminate EAB. Ministerial Orders for EAB also extend to vehicles that are used to carry these items.

The previous Ministerial Order for the City of Toronto has been repealed and the new Ministerial Order includes the City of Toronto, the City of Hamilton, and the regions of Halton, Peel, York and Durham.

The Ministerial Order for the city of Carignan, Quebec includes the cities of Chambly, Richelieu, Saint-Basile-le-Grand and the municipality of Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu.

Additional information on the emerald ash borer and the new Ministerial Orders is available on the CFIA web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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