Newsroom > News Releases / Information Bulletins 

REMINDER TO NOT MOVE WOOD FROM REGULATED AREAS

OTTAWA, July 15, 2004 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency would like to remind summer vacationers that they cannot take firewood or ash nursery stock out of Essex County, Ontario, as the movement of firewood poses a very high risk for the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).

There are regulations in place to control the movement of firewood and the CFIA will confiscate the wood - and perhaps issue a ticket if you do so.

CFIA inspectors will be checking vehicles for prohibited movement of wood at parks and campgrounds. The wood - and other material including nursery stock, trees, logs, lumber and wood with bark attached, wood chips or bark chips from ash trees - is restricted under the Emerald Ash Borer Infested Places Order 2003 to prevent the spread of the EAB.

The entire County of Essex is now infested by EAB. The Agency also asks that people assist in our control efforts by not moving firewood or ash nursery stock from the adjacent Municipality of Chatham-Kent. Although not a regulated area, cooperation from the public in this respect will help prevent any further spread while inspectors determine the extent of the EAB infestation.

EAB is a highly destructive insect pest of ash trees first discovered in Canada and the U.S. in 2002. It has killed millions of ash trees in Windsor, Ontario - Detroit, Michigan area, and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas of Canada and the U.S.

The CFIA is co-operating with other government agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Parks Canada, the Ontario Ministries of Natural Resources and Agriculture and Food and Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service to develop strategies to control the EAB and prevent its spread to other areas of Canada.

Help protect Canada’s trees and forests by following the mandatory regulations and do not move firewood. For more information on the EAB and the regulated area restrictions, please see our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca or call 1 866 463-6017.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations
(613) 228-6682