Phytosanitary Management

The Phytosanitary Issues Management unit facilitates the safe export and import of agricultural commodities based on science.

Consistent with its responsibilities as the International Plant Protection Convention recognized National Plant Protection Organization for the United States , The Phytosanitary Issues Management unit acting on behalf of the Plant Health Program, Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) does the following:

• Serves as the primary point of contact for all technical plant health communications with trading partners, and takes the lead in developing plant health policy and strategy, and in implementing technical solutions to phytosanitary trade barriers.
• Works to remove technical barriers by:
• Encouraging trading partners to harmonize with international standards and guidelines;
• Initiating and presenting scientific and technical studies to support safe, science-based trade;
• Building domestic and international consensus among trading partners, industry, scientific community, PPQ and other US agencies for feasible, science-based solutions to technical trade barriers;
• Working with the PPQ field organization and state regulatory officers to implement new programs and procedures to support science-based trade.
• Manages an internationally accepted system of phytosanitary certification in accordance with international standards.
• Manages the Plant Protection and Quarantine’s international standard development program.
• Manages the Plant Protection and Quarantine’s Accreditation Program.

Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms
The glossary of phytosanitary terms is a reference standard, listing terms and definitions with specific meaning for phytosanitary systems worldwide.

Export Services Program

Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) maintains the export program for the United States exporters of United States and foreign-origin agricultural commodities. The export program does not require certification of any exports, but does provide certification of commodities as a service to United States exporters.

International Standards Management / NAPPO

View information regarding International Standards Management.

Accreditation

The accreditation program is responsible for establishing, and monitoring accreditation systems within the Agency. Accreditation is official recognition of proficiency resulting in the approval and authority to perform specific tasks or to provide specific services in support of official obligations such as the issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates.

Last Modified: November 30, 2006