Industry News Policies
N.S. protecting against the BSLB

April 7, 2015 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has extended the regulated area for the Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle (BSLB) regulated area 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 CFIA remains committed to protecting Canada's plant resource base from pests,” says Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Taking measures to slow the spread of BSLB will help keep markets open to Canadian products and protect our natural resources."

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.

"This action by the CFIA is necessary to further ensure the integrity of international trade of forest related products,” says Zach Churchill, Minister of Natural Resources, Government of Nova Scotia.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will continue to work with stakeholders and consult widely before any longer-term regulatory changes are implemented.

April 7, 2015  By  Andrew Macklin