Prince Edward Island (PEI) authorities strictly regulate the movement of firewood as the province has areas under quarantine for several invasive tree pests including spongy moth, Dutch elm disease, European larch canker, emerald ash borer, brown spruce longhorn beetle, and hemlock woolly adelgid. It is illegal to move firewood out of a regulated area without a movement certificate from the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency (CFIA) since these and other harmful tree pests spread to new areas when people transport untreated firewood. The CFIA and the PEI provincial authorities collectively have the following recommendations for residents and visitors when handling firewood:
- Buy certified heat-treated and/or locally-cut firewood (from within 80km).
- Do not bring outside firewood into a national park in Canada.
- Utilise the Don’t Move Firewood Project to exchange any firewood from out-of-province firewood for locally sourced wood at provincial and national park campsites.
- Utilise the drop-off boxes at PEI entrances to dispose of any out-of-province firewood.
*Open fires are not allowed at many of PEI’s national parks and provincial park campgrounds, and park or provincial authorities may put fire restrictions when wildfire risk is high. Visit the park’s website, call, or visit the park to ask the campground staff for the most current information.
Bringing firewood from Canada into the USA is prohibited unless the firewood is labeled and certified heat-treated. Read about these requirements on the USDA and CBP firewood information sheet.
Bringing firewood from the USA into Canada is prohibited unless the firewood is labeled and certified as heat-treated. Canada also encourages visitors to use local firewood.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 27 November 2023.
Prince Edward Island (PEI) Resources:
- Don’t Move Firewood Project, PEI Invasive Species Council
- PEI Invasive Species Council
- Buying and Burning Firewood on PEI
- Tree Insect and Disease Information
- Invasive Plant and Animal Species in PEI
General Canada Web Resources:
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Don’t Move Firewood Page
- Canadian Council on Invasive Species – Buy Local Burn Local
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Firewood Page
- US Customs and Border Protection (Regarding personal firewood from Canada into the USA)
- Canada Border Services Agency (Regarding person firewood from the USA into Canada)
Pest Specific Information
- Asian Longhorned Beetle Questions and Answers
- Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle Information
- Emerald Ash Borer – Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- Hemlock Woolly Adelgid – CFIA
- Oak Wilt – CFIA
- Spongy Moth Information and Canadian Quarantine
For more information, visit our General Canada Information page.
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