Preclearance Activities

Preclearance is committed to providing high quality, timely services to our customers. In conjunction with International Services (IS), Preclearance inspections, treatments and/or other mitigation measures are conducted in foreign countries under the direct supervision of qualified APHIS personnel in accordance with phytosanitary procedures specified by the Agency. These procedures are designed to identify and/or mitigate the risk of exotic pest introductions through action taken in foreign countries. Integrity checks to ensure compliance with the program guidelines may be conducted at the U.S. port of entry. Proposals for agricultural commodity Preclearance programs are typically developed jointly by the host country’s plant protection service and participating industry. If requested, APHIS will provide appropriate host country officials with assistance in work plan development.

Preclearance Activities serve to perform the following functions:

• Conduct offshore agricultural commodity Preclearance inspections, treatments and/or other mitigation measures in foreign countries under the direct supervision of qualified APHIS personnel in accordance with phytosanitary procedures specified by the Agency;

• Support trade facilitation and pest exclusion by approving and/or proposing new programs;

• Expedite the movement of commodities and giving additional protection to U.S. Agriculture;

•Ensure compliance with program guidelines and APHIS Preclearance protocols; and

•Certify offshore plant production facilities for specific phytosanitary concerns.

Approval Protocol for Establishing Preclearance (includes workplan and cooperative agreement)
This document provides guidelines to be followed when constructing and operating a certified commodity treatment facility. APHIS certified fruit and/or vegetable treatment plants help facilitate the importation of precleared agricultural commodities into the United States.

Commodity Preclearance Program Management Guidelines
Click here to view the guidelines and rules associated with establishing preclearance in PDF format.

APHIS Preclearance Programs
View this PDF document to see a list of the countries where APHIS commodity preclearance programs are in effect and the commodities involved. Commodities are marked whether they are treated (T) or inspected (I) in the second column.

Last Modified: March 13, 2007