The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (AFF), the Cities of Vancouver, Burnaby and Port Coquitlam, and other industry and non-governmental stakeholders are working together as part of an ongoing, collaborative response to prevent the spread of Japanese beetle in British Columbia (BC).
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (AFF), the Cities of Vancouver, Burnaby and Port Coquitlam, and other industry and non-governmental stakeholders are working together as part of an ongoing, collaborative response to prevent the spread of Japanese beetle in British Columbia (BC). Japanese beetle was first detected in BC in 2017, in the False Creek area of Vancouver. In 2021, it was detected in Burnaby, Port Coquitlam and Vancouver.
Japanese beetle is an invasive, regulated pest that feeds on the roots of turf grass, and on the foliage of more than 300 plant species, including: roses, fruit trees, grapevines, and other common landscape and food plants. If this pest spreads, it could cause serious harm to BC's agricultural sector and ecosystem, and will cause significant damage to lawns, landscapes, golf courses, gardens and parks.
Notice to industry: Expansion of regulated area in British Columbia for Japanese beetle
As part of the coordinated response to the detections of Japanese beetle, in the False Creek area of Vancouver, British Columbia (BC) in 2017, the CFIA first established a regulated area in 2018.
A revised regulated area came into effect on March 19, 2022, and includes areas within the Cities of Burnaby and Vancouver, in the Province of BC.
The CFIA is restricting the movement of soil, rooted plants with soil, and other plant material that is infested or likely to be infested with Japanese beetle out of the regulated areas. These restrictions are intended to reduce the risk of unintentional human-assisted spread of the beetle.
Until further notice, the following restrictions are in effect:
A CFIA-issued movement certificate is required to move all of the regulated articles listed above outside of a regulated area.
Find out if you are in a Japanese beetle regulated area:
Learn more about the CFIA's movement controls
As a result of the initial 2017 detections of Japanese beetle in the False Creek area of Vancouver, the CFIA is carrying out enhanced surveillance for Japanese beetle in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia (BC).
Traps will be concentrated in the areas where Japanese beetle has been found. The surveillance program will provide the CFIA and its key stakeholders with more information about the presence and distribution of Japanese beetle in BC.
The traps contain a Japanese beetle attractant which is a combination of a floral lure and a pheromone. The traps and lures do not pose a risk to animals or humans. Anyone who sees a trap is asked not to tamper with it.
Given the serious damage that Japanese beetle can do to parks, lawns, golf courses, landscapes and the agriculture industry, the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (AFF) is leading a coordinated effort to eradicate the pest.
The British Columbia Plant Protection Advisory Council (BCPPAC) conducts an annual risk-analysis of Japanese beetle surveillance results, and provides science-based recommendations for the ongoing eradication response in British Columbia. BCPPAC's current recommendations include the treatment of both public and private lands with turf grass and/or landscape beds in and around the detection sites.
There is no requirement for the mandatory treatment of private property. The British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries is working with the Cities of Burnaby, Port Coquitlam and Vancouver, and the landscaping industry, to establish voluntary of private properties located in the vicinity of where Japanese beetle has been detected.
The products used to treat for this include acelepryn and beetleGONE!Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae) and are approved for use in Canada by the Government of Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). The products are applied according to label instructions. Adult Japanese beetles and larvae come into contact or ingest the products while they are feeding.
®(The City of Burnaby will treat public lands with turf and grass in and around where Japanese beetle has been detected. Treatment will be carried out during the spring and summer.
The City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation will treat public lands with turf grass and/or landscape beds in and around where Japanese beetle has been detected. Treatment will be carried out during the spring and summer.
These groups are participating in the planning and implementation of the ongoing response to Japanese beetle.