Legalizing Bugs in Canada
Donation protected
***UPDATE*** Feb 7, 2019***
Huge disappointment, I submitted the forms for assessments and the CFIA will not do them. See the facebook page Legalizing Bugs in Canada for details. Will be refunding money. Sorry everyone.
CURRENT REAL TOTAL: $1400
(Due to a large direct donation. See update.)
Many invertebrate animals are not legal to have in Canada. Why?
Many "bugs" are not allowed in Canada without a special permit because the government is trying to protect our farms and ecosystems. This is a very important thing. However, the bans cover entire orders of bugs in a "better safe than sorry" approach that did not involve research into specific species and whether or not they are actually invasive.
Which bugs are not allowed?
All tropical cockroaches, non-native millipedes such as African Giant Millipedes, nearly all mantises such as the Orchid Mantis, non-native beetles such as Stag Beetles, and all stick insects, among others. Many of these would never survive a Canadian winter if they accidentally got out, so maybe if they were assessed thoroughly, they would be determined to be safe!
What are we fundraising for?
To pay the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to do Pest Risk Assessments on invertebrates which are not currently legal to have in Canada without a permit. Hopefully (but there is no guarantee) they will be assessed at low risk which means we could have them as pets!
How much does it cost? A Pest Risk Assessment costs $250. That's it!
How long does it take? Once the Assessment is initiated, it could take 2-5 years to reach a conclusion. It could be much shorter than that, but it could be 2-5 years. So this is a long-term project.
Which bugs will we be assessing? The first $250 will be used to fund an assessment on Blaptica dubia (Orange Spotted Roach). They are commonly raised feeder insects for reptiles and invertebrates. If we raise more money than that, the next $250 will go towards the Florida Ivory Millipede. If people are really into this and we get more money, we'll have to determine by discussion which bugs should come next. (Though I have plenty of my own ideas...Rainbow Stag Beetle anyone? Blue death feigning beetle?)
Where can I see a list of organisms which have already been assessed?
Please see the following link:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/...02/appendix-1/eng/1433209372739/1433209373489
I have created a FaceBook page to update people on the status of assessments and to get suggestions on species to assess. It is: Legalizing Bugs in Canada.
OK Lets do it!!!
Huge disappointment, I submitted the forms for assessments and the CFIA will not do them. See the facebook page Legalizing Bugs in Canada for details. Will be refunding money. Sorry everyone.
CURRENT REAL TOTAL: $1400
(Due to a large direct donation. See update.)
Many invertebrate animals are not legal to have in Canada. Why?
Many "bugs" are not allowed in Canada without a special permit because the government is trying to protect our farms and ecosystems. This is a very important thing. However, the bans cover entire orders of bugs in a "better safe than sorry" approach that did not involve research into specific species and whether or not they are actually invasive.
Which bugs are not allowed?
All tropical cockroaches, non-native millipedes such as African Giant Millipedes, nearly all mantises such as the Orchid Mantis, non-native beetles such as Stag Beetles, and all stick insects, among others. Many of these would never survive a Canadian winter if they accidentally got out, so maybe if they were assessed thoroughly, they would be determined to be safe!
What are we fundraising for?
To pay the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to do Pest Risk Assessments on invertebrates which are not currently legal to have in Canada without a permit. Hopefully (but there is no guarantee) they will be assessed at low risk which means we could have them as pets!
How much does it cost? A Pest Risk Assessment costs $250. That's it!
How long does it take? Once the Assessment is initiated, it could take 2-5 years to reach a conclusion. It could be much shorter than that, but it could be 2-5 years. So this is a long-term project.
Which bugs will we be assessing? The first $250 will be used to fund an assessment on Blaptica dubia (Orange Spotted Roach). They are commonly raised feeder insects for reptiles and invertebrates. If we raise more money than that, the next $250 will go towards the Florida Ivory Millipede. If people are really into this and we get more money, we'll have to determine by discussion which bugs should come next. (Though I have plenty of my own ideas...Rainbow Stag Beetle anyone? Blue death feigning beetle?)
Where can I see a list of organisms which have already been assessed?
Please see the following link:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/...02/appendix-1/eng/1433209372739/1433209373489
I have created a FaceBook page to update people on the status of assessments and to get suggestions on species to assess. It is: Legalizing Bugs in Canada.
OK Lets do it!!!
Organizer
Georgia Michelini Blum
Organizer
Calgary, AB
