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MINISTERIAL ORDER TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE ASIAN LONG-HORNED BEETLE NOW IN EFFECT IN TORONTO-VAUGHAN

OTTAWA, February 26, 2004 - A regulated area has been established in parts of Toronto and Vaughan in order to prevent the spread of the Asian Long-horned Beetle (ALHB).

The regulated place includes the area bordered in the north by Rutherford Road/York Regional Road 73; in the east by Dufferin Street/York Regional Road 53/William R. Allen Road/The William R. Allen Expressway; in the south by Hwy. 401 and Hwy. 409; and in the west by Hwy. 27/York Regional Road 27.

There are now prohibitions or restrictions of movement on nursery stock, trees, leaves, logs, lumber, wood, wood chips and bark chips from certain deciduous trees identified as hosts of the ALHB and firewood of all species. Unless authorized by a Movement Certificate issued by the CFIA, their movement out of or through the regulated area is prohibited. This is necessary to prevent the spread of the ALHB throughout Toronto and the rest of Ontario and Canada.

The Asian Long-horned Beetle Infested Place Order is issued under the authority of the Plant Protection Act. Every person who contravenes a prohibition or restriction imposed under it may be subject to a fine or may be liable to prosecution or both. Every effort will be made to minimize inconvenience to property owners and to limit damage to ravines and other environmentally sensitive areas. Over the course of the spring and summer, the CFIA will be conducting information sessions to provide the public with opportunities to learn about ALHB and to ask questions relating to the eradication plan.

The CFIA is co-operating with other agencies including the City of Toronto, the City of Vaughan, York Region and its municipalities, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service to develop strategies to prevent the spread of the beetle to other areas of Canada. In addition, consultative and advisory committees have been formed to provide science-based advice to the CFIA on this issue.

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For more information on the ALHB, including maps of the regulated area and guidance for industry, please see our website at www.inspection.gc.ca