Strengthening Measures to Protect Canada from the Asian Long-Horned Beetle

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Canadian Food Inspection Agency Feb 06, 2012

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has introduced new requirements to prevent the introduction and spread of the Asian long-horned beetle, a pest that could seriously threaten Canada’s forests and trees.

“The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canada’s plant resource base. This is another step towards protecting Canada’s environment, forests and agricultural resources from harmful pests,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “These new restrictions build on existing controls and are expected to lead to the eventual eradication of this pest in Canada.”

Under the new rules, logs and dried branches of host trees, and firewood of all species, cannot be imported from areas of the United States where this beetle is present. Logs of host trees and firewood of all species cannot be moved from the regulated area located within the Greater Toronto Area. In Canada, this beetle has only been found in the Greater Toronto Area where it was last detected in 2007.

Lumber, wood and bark chips from tree species targeted by Asian long-horned beetles must be certified to be free of the insect when imported from the areas in the United States where this beetle is present or when moved out of the regulated area located within the Greater Toronto Area.

Trees affected by the Asian long-horned beetle include birch, elm, hackberry, horsechestnut, maple, mountain ash, plane (sycamore), poplar, white silk and willow.

For more information on these new restrictions and Canada’s efforts to combat harmful insects, please visit www.inspection.gc.ca/pests.

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