Plant Protection and Quarantine
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) is a program within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). PPQ safeguards agriculture and natural resources from the entry, establishment, and spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds into the United States of America; and supports trade and exports of U.S. agricultural products.
Mission
APHIS-PPQ safeguards agriculture and natural resources from the entry, establishment, and spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds into the United States of America; and supports trade and exports of U.S. agricultural products.
Vision
- Plant Protection and Quarantine, as the world’s leading Plant Protection Organization, is recognized for its: Leadership in scientific expertise, application of innovative technologies and operational best practices; Excellence and timely collaborative approaches with its national and international stakeholders;Appropriate responsive engagement with a well informed public; Demonstrated valuable contribution to the preservation of a healthy global environment; Inclusive high performing organization driven by its diverse and dedicated workforce that shares responsibility and leadership for accomplishing PPQ’s mission with the highest standards of excellence in ensuring sustainable agricultural practices and an abundant, high-quality and varied food supply that strengthens the marketability of U.S. agriculture in domestic and international commerce. PPQ’s meaningful and measureable investments in its employees make PPQ a model employer of choice.
Plant Pest Program Information PPQ responds to many new introductions of plant pests to eradicate, suppress, or contain them through various programs in cooperation with state departments of agriculture and other government agencies. These may be emergency or longer term domestic programs that target a specific pest. This page lists a variety of insect, plant disease, mollusk, or weed programs with detailed information linked to each.
Pest Detection
The goal of PPQ’s pest detection program is to protect America’s agricultural and ecological resources by insuring the early detection of harmful or economically significant plant pest and weeds. View this page to learn more about this program.
Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
The Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST) provides scientific support for PPQ regulatory decisions and operations.
Pest Identification
The National Identification Services coordinates the identification of plant pests in support of USDA’s regulatory programs. This page provides procedures and resources relating to the identification of plant pests of regulatory concern.
Plant Import and Export
PPQ serves to allow legitimate international and interstate trade while preventing the introduction of foreign plant pests. View this page to learn more about import and export requirements for live plants and plant products, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and certification information on solid wood packing material. Links to PPQ's electronic manuals are also available at this site. To learn about information related to what roles APHIS facilitates for Import and Export, click here.
Permits
Permits are required under specific USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Regulatory Authorities to import designated plants, plant products and soil into the U.S., transport designated plants and plant products through the U.S., import plant pests and biological control organisms into the U.S., and move plant pests and biological control organisms between States. View this page for more information about permitting.
Crop Biosecurity and Emergency Response
PPQ, the Federal response agency for plant health emergencies, develops and delivers strategic science-based regulatory programs designed to protect US crops and natural resources. View this page to learn about PPQ's infrastructure, programs, and activities that strive to deliver an effective systems approach to mitigate risks posed by select agents and regulated pests.
Accreditation, Certification, and Network Services
The Accreditation, Certification, and Network Services (ACNS) unit manages the National Seed Health System; the U.S. Nursery Certification Program; the U.S. Greenhouse Certification Program; the State National Harmonization Program for seed potatoes; Special Foreign Inspection and Certification programs; Plants in Growing Media; Postentry Quarantine, Audit-based Certification Systems pertaining to section 10201(d)(1) of the Farm Bill; and the National Clean Plant Network pertaining to section 10202 of the Farm Bill.
Safeguarding American Plant Resources
A Stakeholder Review of the APHIS-PPQ Safeguarding System.