December 3, 2013, Ottawa: Following the recent detection of Asian long-horned beetle in an industrial area near Pearson International Airport, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has established a regulated area in Mississauga and Toronto as part of its plans to eliminate the pest.

The Agency is cooperating with other authorities including the City of Mississauga, the City of Toronto, and the City of Brampton, as well as, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Canada to determine next steps.

The regulated area includes the region bordered in the north by Finch, in the east by Martin Grove: in the south by Highway 401 and in the west Dixie; an area of approximately 20 square kilometres.

With the regulation of this area, there are now restrictions on the movement of nursery stock, trees, logs, lumber, wood, wood chips and bark chips from certain deciduous trees identified as hosts of the ALHB. and firewood of all species. Unless authorized by a Movement Certificate issued by the CFIA, the movement of these items out of the regulated area is prohibited. These restrictions are necessary to prevent the spread of the ALHB. Moving firewood or other restricted wood products, even just a few kilometres, is a common way for invasive insects and diseases to spread.

Any person who fails to adhere to the movement restrictions may be subject to a fine, prosecution or both.

The beetle, which is native to Asia, attacks and kills healthy deciduous trees, especially maple. Their larvae feed within the trunk and branches of trees and eventually fill the trees with holes, causing the trees to die.Adult beetles feed on the leaves, bark and branch tips.

Additional information is available on the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca/pests.

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Canadian Food Inspection Agency Media relations: 613-773-6600