Archived - Notice to industry: Expansion of regulated area in British Columbia for Japanese beetle

April 21, 2022

Who does this affect

This notice is of interest to members of the Canadian landscaping, construction, nursery, greenhouse, horticulture, agriculture, and forestry industries, who may need to move regulated articles outside of a regulated area in British Columbia (BC).

Regulated articles include:

• soil (of any depth), year-round
• plants with soil, year-round; and
• plants and above-ground parts that are substantially free from soil, during the Japanese beetle flight period which takes place from June 15 to October 15 each year

What has changed

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has expanded the geographic boundary of the existing Japanese beetle regulated area within the City of Vancouver, in the Province of BC, and created a new Japanese beetle regulated area within the City of Burnaby, BC. See the map of the updated regulated area (PDF – 2,160 kb) for further details.

Why has the Japanese beetle regulated area in BC changed

In 2021, Japanese beetle was detected within the cities of Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, and Vancouver, in areas located outside of the regulated area, which was established within the City of Vancouver in 2018, and expanded in 2019. Based on the detections, and recommendations made by the British Columbia Plant Protection Advisory Council (BCPPAC), a Japanese Beetle Ministerial Order was signed on March 19, 2022. The expansion allows industry members to move regulated articles only within this area without certification, in order to, prevent the spread of Japanese beetle into pest-free, unregulated areas. The expansion is supported by the CFIA's Japanese beetle response key stakeholders, who include the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (AFF); the cities of Burnaby, Port Coquitlam and Vancouver; the British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA), the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISCBC), and industry.

Movement of regulated articles outside of a regulated area is restricted, and will require a movement certificate issued by the CFIA. Any person or business who fails to adhere to the movement restrictions may be subject to a fine, prosecution, or both.

A complete summary of the changes can be found on the CFIA website.

Japanese beetle is an invasive, regulated pest under the Plant Protection Act, which feeds on the roots of turf grass, and the foliage of more than 300 plant species. This pest could cause serious harm to BC's agricultural sector and ecosystem, and could cause significant damage to food crops, lawns, landscapes, golf courses, gardens and parks.

Japanese beetle has become established in the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, and movement of regulated articles from these areas, to other parts of Canada, including BC, must meet certain requirements to prevent further spread.

Contact

For more information about the Japanese beetle response in BC, visit the Japanese beetle webpage or contact your local CFIA office.

To obtain a movement certificate for regulated articles moving outside of a regulated area within Burnaby or Vancouver, or to report sightings of Japanese beetle in BC, please call 604-292-5742 or email us at BCPF.Japanese.Beetle@inspection.gc.ca.