Official Pest Report
Official Pest Reports are provided by National Plant Protection Organizations within the NAPPO region. These Pest Reports are intended to comply with the International Plant Protection Convention's Standard on Pest Reporting, endorsed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in March 2002.
Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle - Updated Regulated Areas - Canada
Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle - Updated Regulated Areas - Canada
Country: Canada
Title: Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle - Updated Regulated Areas - Canada
Contact:
Jeff English, Director of Communications, The Office of Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture (613-773-1059); Media Relations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (613-773-6600); Bruce Nunn, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (902-424-5239).
Report:
As of April 2, 2015, the regulated area for Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle (BSLB) will be expanded to include the entire province of Nova Scotia. The proposed changes will reduce regulatory burden, increase awareness of the regulated areas, and maximize compliance with movement restrictions. Furthermore, the regulations will be in line with domestic and international pest management standards in order to better protect the Maritimes' forest areas from this destructive invasive insect.
The movement of regulated wood products (e.g. softwood, firewood, and spruce logs) by individuals is the greatest risk to the rapid and long distance spread of BSLB. The use of recognizable provincial boundaries is intended to address movement of regulated wood products by individuals. This interim province-based regulation approach will allow for more open trade regionally in the "Maritime woodbasket" while longer term measures are being considered.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will continue to work with stakeholders and consult widely before any longer-term regulatory changes are implemented.
Under IPPC Standards (e.g. ISPM No. 8), BSLB is considered to be a pest that is present in some parts of Canada and is subject to official control to prevent further spread.
For more information about the BSLB in Canada, please visit the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca.
Posted Date: April 8, 2015, 9 a.m.