Emerald ash borer confirmed in the Gaspésie

News release

Pest detected outside the regulated area

July 11, 2022 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer on a private property in the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Avignon, in the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of Quebec. The finding is outside of the regulated area in that province, which extends from the Pontiac RCM in the Outaouais to the Kamouraska RCM in the Bas-Saint-Laurent.

Effective immediately, the movement of all ash material (such as logs, branches, and woodchips) and all species of firewood is restricted from the zone determined by the CFIA around the affected location. The property owner has been notified of these restrictions. The current regulated area could be expanded once the CFIA has completed its survey work.

Although the emerald ash borer poses no threat to human health, it is highly destructive to ash trees. It has already killed millions of ash trees 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 emerald ash borer was first confirmed in Canada in 2002. It has since been found in parts of five provinces: Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

  • The CFIA regulates this pest to protect Canada's forests, municipal trees and nurseries.

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Contacts

CFIA Media Relations
613-773-6600
cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca

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About the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) touches the lives of all Canadians in so many positive ways. Each day, hard-working CFIA employees – including inspectors, veterinarians and scientists – inspect food for safety risks, protect plants from pests and invasive species, and respond to animal diseases that could threaten Canada's national herd and human health. Guided by science-based decision-making and modern regulations, the Agency works tirelessly to ensure access to safe and healthy food in Canada, and support access to international markets for our high-quality agricultural products. To learn more, visit inspection.canada.ca.

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