As of September 3, 2010, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) began to regulate 2 additional counties for Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM).
Sacramento and San Diego counties have now been added to the list of regulated areas in California. This means that phytosanitary certificates will now be required when importing regulated host species from these counties.
The complete Light Brown Apple Moth Directive can be found here.
The USDA blog on hungrypests.com has reported that the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM), a highly invasive pest, is possibly spreading to another county in California.
They have written:
“…. Two examples of this are the new Light Brown Apple Moth finds in Southern California. Most recently, one LBAM was trapped in a lemon grove in San Diego County—the first find in that County. More LBAMs have been found in the Long Beach area of Los Angeles County, after more than 100 moths were found and quarantine established last year. Quarantine is established anytime two or more moths are found in an area, so any LBAM find is significant—but more than 100 moths means a population is likely establishing itself in the area….”
You can read the full post here.
What this means is that if another LBAM is found in the county of San Diego it too will be added to the 17 other quarantined counties in California and a phytosanitary certificate will be required to import regulated host species of plants, fruits and vegetables in to British Columbia.
Check back for more information as we find it out and check the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Directive to Prevent the Entry of LBAM frequently for updates, since this can be updated without notice. We will be doing the same thing.