Expansion of the Dutch elm disease regulated areas into British Columbia and Saskatchewan

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its regulated areas for Dutch elm disease (DED) to include an area in south-central British Columbia (BC) and the entire Province of Saskatchewan (SK).

Expansion of the Dutch elm disease regulated areas into British Columbia and Saskatchewan From: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

News release The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its regulated areas for Dutch elm disease (DED) to include an area in south-central British Columbia (BC) and the entire Province of Saskatchewan (SK). June 16, 2026 The regulated area in BC includes parts of the Regional Districts of Kootenay Boundary and Central Kootenay.

This follows the confirmation of the first detections of DED in BC in July 2024. regulated area in BC 2024 Dutch elm disease has been present in Saskatchewan since 1981, and has slowly spread east to west, with the most recent detections in the City of Saskatoon in 2025. Movement restrictions are in place to protect Canada’s landscape and economy by helping to prevent the spread of DED to non-infested areas of Canada.

All species, hybrids and horticultural cultivars of elm (Ulmus and Zelkova spp.) cannot be moved out of a regulated area or infested province to an uninfested province. Movements to a regulated area in a partially infested province require a movement certificate issued by a local CFIA office. This restriction applies to propagative material (e.g. nursery stock) and non-propagative material with bark attached such as logs, lumber, firewood, crates and isolated bark.

local CFIA office DED is a regulated plant disease in Canada. It is caused by a fungus, Ophiostoma ulmi (Buisman) and Ophiostoma novo-ulmi (Brasier), which blocks the tree's ability to conduct water and causes the tree to die. The fungus is mainly spread by elm bark beetles, and all species of American elm are susceptible.

DED is a regulated plant disease The CFIA works with federal, provincial, Indigenous and municipal partners, as well as industry, to help slow the spread of the disease and protect Canada’s landscape and economy. If you spot symptoms of DED in elm trees outside of a DED regulated area, report it to the CFIA to support early detection. report it Quick facts

DED is present in most parts of Canada. British Columbia is now designated as partially infested, while both Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador continue to maintain their DED-free status. The CFIA regulates this disease to protect Canada's forests, municipal trees and nurseries and to support related provincial government activities that mitigate the impact of DED.

Moving firewood is one of the highest risk pathways for accidentally introducing DED into pest-free areas. The public is encouraged to buy local and burn local to reduce the risk of spreading DED or other invasive species. All species of North American elm trees should not be pruned between April 1 to September 30 to reduce the risk of spread.

Moving firewood Associated links

Dutch elm disease

Don't move firewood

D- 97-07: Phytosanitary requirements for the importation from the United States and domestic movement of elm material (Ulmus spp. and Zelkova spp.) to prevent the introduction and spread of Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma ulmi (Buisman) (Nannf. and (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi (Brasier) within Canada

Contacts Contacts Media Relations Canadian Food Inspection Agency 613-773-6600cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca Follow us on social mediaFacebook: CFIACanada X: @InspectionCan YouTube: @CFIA Instagram: @CFIA_Canada LinkedIn: Canadian Food Inspection Agency CFIACanada @InspectionCan @CFIA @CFIA_Canada

Each day, hard-working CFIA employees—including inspectors, veterinarians and scientists—inspect food for safety risks, protect plants from pests and invasive species, and respond to animal diseases that could threaten Canada’s national herd and human health. Guided by science-based decision-making and modern regulations, the Agency works tirelessly to ensure access to safe and healthy food in Canada, and support access to international markets for our high-quality agricultural products. To learn more, visit inspection.canada.ca.

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