July 7, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its regulated areas for emerald ash borer (EAB - Agrilus planipennis) in British Columbia (BC) to help slow the spread of this invasive insect.

Following detections of trees infested with EAB in the City of Surrey, BC, the CFIA has expanded its regulated areas to include both Surrey and the City of New Westminster.

The regulated area in British Columbia already includes the City of Burnaby, the City of Vancouver, the University of British Columbia campus, and the University Endowment Lands. This is the third expansion of the EAB regulated area in British Columbia.

There have not been any detections of EAB in New Westminster yet. As New Westminster is located between Burnaby and Surrey, there is a high probability that the beetle is already present but not yet detected.

Effective immediately, ash material (such as logs, branches and woodchips) and all species of firewood cannot be moved outside of the regulated area without permission from the CFIA. If you need to move ash material, please contact your local CFIA office to request written authorization.

EAB is commonly spread through the movement of firewood and other infested ash wood products, although it can also spread on its own by flying up to 10 kilometers.

Although the EAB poses no threat to human health, it is highly destructive to ash trees. It has already killed millions of ash trees in regulated areas in Canada and the United States and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas of North America.

Preventing the spread of invasive species, like EAB, is the best way to protect forests, native plants and forestry-related businesses.

The CFIA will continue to survey and monitor the spread of this pest in British Columbia and will continue to work with federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations partners and organizations to slow its spread.

If you spot EAB outside regulated areas, report it to the CFIA to help stop the spread.