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FINES LAID FOR FIREWOOD MOVEMENT VIOLATIONS
IN ESSEX COUNTY

Ottawa, August 6, 2004 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has fined four campers for violating the Emerald Ash Borer Infested Places Order.

Each individual received $400 tickets for transporting firewood out of the EAB Regulated Area of Essex County and had their wood confiscated.  CFIA inspectors disposed of the wood, some of which was infested by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).

Routine firewood inspections at Wheatley and Rondeau Provincial Parks saw hundreds of cars searched by CFIA inspectors.  In general, visitors to the parks were aware of the fight against the EAB and the restrictions on the movement of firewood.         

Under the Order, it is prohibited to move any firewood, ash nursery stock, trees, logs, lumber and wood with bark attached, wood chips or bark chips out of the quarantine area of Essex County, without the written permission of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The Order is in place to control the spread of EAB.  The county is infested by the EAB, a destructive insect pest of ash trees that has killed millions of ash trees in Essex County and Michigan State. 

The CFIA will continue to work with its partners, including Parks Canada, the Canadian Forest Service - Natural Resources Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, for the remainder of the camping season to ensure campers and other travellers are following the mandatory regulations and do not move firewood from Essex County.

The Agency is also asking people to assist in the EAB control efforts by not moving firewood or ash nursery stock from infested areas of the United States or the adjacent Municipality of Chatham-Kent.  Although the municipality is not a regulated area, cooperation from the public will help prevent any further spread of EAB.

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For more information on Emerald Ash Borer, please visit our website at www.inspection.gc.ca or call 1-866-463-6017.

CFIA Media Relations:
(613) 228-6682