USDA Updates Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine Policy

EAB. Emerald Ash Borer, is a wood-boring beetle from Asia that feeds on ash trees. 

USDA Updates Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine Policy

Federal Order Focuses on Perimeter Areas

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2012-- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued a Federal Order updating its Emerald Ash Borer
(EAB) quarantine policy. The Federal Order allows unrestricted interstate movement of
regulated articles within contiguous federal quarantine boundaries, with the exception of
movements to protected areas within the existing quarantine area. The change will become
effective on July 1, 2012.

The protected areas include any area identified by a state as pest free for which the state has
regulations to protect against the human assisted intrastate spread of EAB.

APHIS’s EAB program seeks to manage the invasive EAB using the best science and tools available, with emphasis on activities that are most effective in stopping/slowing the spread of
EAB to new areas. APHIS is now modifying its policy to focus its regulatory efforts on the
perimeter of quarantined areas. This will allow for the best use of available resources and reduce
the complexity of the requirements for affected stakeholders.

The policy change will allow EAB regulated articles to move freely within contiguous
quarantined areas, except interstate movement into the protected areas. Movements of regulated
materials from quarantined areas to protected areas must be done with a properly issued federal
certificate or limited permit. Requirements for movement of regulated materials out of the
federal quarantined area, regardless of destination, will remain unchanged.
Companies and individuals should also check for and follow any relevant state EAB
quarantine regulations.

Regulated EAB material includes all ash wood with the bark and sapwood remaining, ash
nursery stock, and all hardwood firewood.


Joelle Hayden (301) 851-4040
Sharon Lucik (810) 844-2713