Expansion of the emerald ash borer regulated areas into Nova Scotia

OTTAWA, April 1, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its regulated areas for emerald ash borer (EAB) to include an area in Nova Scotia, in an effort to slow the insect's spread. This change is due to a detection of EAB in the city of Bedford.

The regulated area in Nova Scotia consists of the county of Halifax. 

Effective immediately, the movement of ash materials, including logs, branches and woodchips, and all species of firewood from the county of Halifax is restricted. If you need to move regulated articles such as ash logs and branches or firewood of any species out of the EAB regulated area, please contact your local CFIA office to request written authorization.

Although the EAB poses no threat to human health, it is highly destructive to ash trees. It has already killed millions of ash trees in regulated areas in Canada and the United States, and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas of North America. The CFIA continues to work with federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations partners and organizations to slow the spread of this pest.

Quick facts

• Moving untreated firewood is a common way for invasive insects and diseases to spread.
• The EAB is native to eastern Asia. Its presence in Canada was first confirmed in 2002.
• Prior to this new detection, the EAB was known to be present only in certain areas of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Affected areas are regulated by the CFIA to protect Canada's forests, municipal trees and nurseries.

Associated links

• Areas regulated for the emerald ash borer
• Additional information on the emerald ash borer
• Don't move firewood

SOURCE Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)