Japanese Beetle Information for Retailers

Japanese Beetle for Retail Garden Centres

Japanese beetle is a serious invasive pest threatening turf, ornamentals, and the broader landscape industry in British Columbia. Retail garden centres are on the front lines of identifying and preventing the spread of Japanese beetle in British Columbia. With strict movement restrictions and inspection protocols in place, it’s essential that staff are aware of compliance requirements and best practices. This page provides retail-specific information, regulatory updates, and tools to help your garden centre stay compliant and protect the plant supply chain.

Background

Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is a federally regulated plant pest that was first detected in the False Creek area of Vancouver in 2017. Japanese beetle can cause significant damage to the horticultural, environmental and agricultural landscape of BC. CFIA has been collaborating with multi-levels of government, industry, and the general public to eradicate this pest from British Columbia.

2025 Japanese Beetle Technical Session

Want to dive deeper into the 2025 Japanese Beetle program? Check out our Technical Session page for a recorded webinar, presentation slides, frequently asked questions, and links to a variety of resources.

View Technical Session

Guidelines for Retailers in Regulated Areas

Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is a federally regulated plant pest that was first detected in the False Creek area of Vancouver in 2017. Japanese beetle can cause significant damage to the horticultural, environmental, and agricultural landscape of BC. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been collaborating with all levels of government, industry, and the public to eradicate this pest from British Columbia.

Japanese Beetle Regulated Areas

The CFIA has been engaging retailers situated within a Japanese beetle regulated area to prevent the spread of this damaging insect and raise awareness about how you can help protect your industry.

Under the new guidelines, retailers within a regulated area who wish to sell potted plants (with soil or growing media) to customers who may be taking the plants outside of a regulated area, must operate under one of the following four options listed to reduce the risk of spreading Japanese beetle.

Read the 2023 Letter to Garden Centres JB Retailer FAQs 2023

Options for Retailers in a Japanese Beetle Regulated Area Selling Plants with Soil

Option 1

Keep your plants completely indoors during the Japanese beetle flight period (June 15 – October 15).
Plants can then move outside of a regulated area (RA) and no movement certificate is required.

Option 2

Treat your plants per section 5.3 of D-96-15, and apply for a movement certificate.

Option 3

Produce plants in compliance with the Japanese beetle Pest-free Greenhouse / Screenhouse Program.

Option 4

Apply for a movement certificate, and get issued a regulatory notice that lists the following conditions for movement:

Display CFIA signs in store that educate your customers about Japanese beetle and the regulated area (includes a map of the regulated area).
If the plant is being moved outside the regulated area, have the store staff inspect the plant at the point of sale.
Allow CFIA to place a trap in your store.

Note: Grass (family Poaceae) poses a significant risk as a potential host plant for Japanese beetle. Whenever possible, retailers should encourage their customers not to purchase and remove members of the Poaceae family from a regulated area. Retailers should work with customers to educate them on the risk and find alternatives if moving outside of the regulated area.

Retailers are responsible for selecting an option and will be assessed by the CFIA on a case-by-case basis. Most retailers choose option 4. The CFIA is not responsible for any additional costs incurred as a result of Japanese beetle regulatory compliance actions. Please contact the CFIA as soon as possible to determine which option will work best for your facility.

Retail of Japanese Beetle Traps & Reporting Japanese Beetle Presence

Japanese beetle shelf sign for retailers selling Japanese beetle traps
(currently under revision)

Help spread the word!

The CFIA is asking all retailers who sell Japanese beetle traps-specifically in and around regulated areas-to place shelf signs (see example) by all traps sold in-store. This is part of an ongoing effort to educate the public about the need to report all Japanese beetles captured.

Customers purchasing Japanese beetle traps should be encouraged to report the presence of any beetles they find. This helps CFIA identify the locations of beetle populations and supports eradication efforts.

Please let CFIA know who they can contact at your local Burnaby, Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, and/or Coquitlam stores, in and around the regulated area (see enclosed map), so arrangements can be made for ambassadors with the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISCBC) to deliver shelf signs.

For more information:
Contact the CFIA at 604-292-5742 or email BCPF.Japanese.Beetle@inspection.gc.ca