This information is summarized from the PPQ Home Page with permission. Please refer to that website for the most up-to-date information.
APHIS Home Page | PPQ Home Page
Newsgroup on Regulatory Issues Concerning Plant Pests
Researchers and other scientists often need to import living plant pests or to ship them interstate. Mishandling may result in a serious insect, disease, or weed outbreak that could cost millions of dollars to control and destroy vital agricultural resources.
Three Federal statutes, the Plant Quarantine Act of 1912, the Federal Plant Pest Act of 1957, and the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, provide authority for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restrict or prohibit unauthorized importation and movement of plant pests, including arthropods, plant pathogens, vectors, noxious weeds, and articles that may harbor these organisms.
Authorization to import living pest organisms or ship them interstate may be obtained by permit. APHIS carefully weighs risk against expected benefits before making a decision to issue a permit.
INSTRUCTION FOR PREPARING PPQ FORM 526
OVERVIEW OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS
DOWNLOAD PPQ FORM 526 "Permit for Application
to Move Live Plant Pests and Noxious Weeds" -- To begin your permit process,
you may print this form and submit it to the appropriate State official of
the State destination. IMPORTANT: Please read "Standard
Safeguards of Permit" before completing the form.
TYPES OF ORGANISMS REQUIRING PERMITS
Preliminary
Processing of all Applications (Figure 1)
Processing
of Applications for Movement into Containment Facilities (Figure 2)
Processing
of Applications for Release into the Environment (Figure 3)
Each request for a permit is evaluated individually. The decision to grant or deny a permit is made only after consultation with Federal, State, or private specialists. APHIS officials consider the following factors:
The applicant must comply with the conditions specified in the permit. Safeguards listed in the permit may specify method of packaging and how material is to be shipped, handled, treated, confined, used, and inactivated or destroyed. Instructions vary depending upon pest species, origin, and destination of shipment. Inspection and approval of the premises by APHIS personnel may be stipulated in the permit.
Any deviation from the requirements in the permit must have prior approval from the issuing office. Any laboratory accident or irregularity resulting in escape, release, or theft of the pest must be reported immediately to APHIS and the appropriate State plant regulatory officials.
