Plant Health
Noxious Weeds Program
Laws and Regulations
Current Federal laws, regulations, and policies that affect APHIS' authority with respect to weeds include the following:
Major Authorities
The Plant Protection Act (PDF; 130 Kb)
The Plant Protection Act was signed into law in 2000. It replaces the Federal Noxious Weed Act and many other APHIS Plant Protection Authorities.
Superseded by the Plant Protection Act, except for the attached section.
Federal Seed Act
[7 U.S.C. 1551-1611]
This Act regulates interstate and foreign commerce in seeds, and addresses "noxious weed seeds" that may be present in agricultural (e.g., lawn, pasture) or vegetable seed. APHIS administers the foreign commerce provision of this Act; the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers the interstate commerce provisions.
The Noxious Weed Control and Eradication Act of 2004 (PDF; 64 Kb)
Additional Information
Environmental Monitoring Requirements
Federal laws that may require APHIS to conduct environmental monitoring or documentation include:
National Environmental Policy Act
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
Food Quality Protection Act
Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act
Endangered Species Act; Clean Water Act
Clean Air Act
Toxic Substances Control Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
APHIS Noxious Weed Policy has recently been revised following passage of the Plant Protection Act.
Last Modified:
December 17, 2007