APHIS Procedures for Hand-Carrying
Biological Organisms
The USDA
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Plant
Protection and Quarantine (APHIS-PPQ)
on December 15, 2005, rescinded the prohibition
on hand-carrying biological organisms and
other germplasm, the bonded carrier requirement,
and the requirement for inspection at the
APHIS-PPQ inspection facility in Beltsville,
MD. Current permit holders must request
an amended permit from APHIS-PPQ to hand-carry
biological control agents (or other organisms)
from their place of origin to any port
of entry into the United States, and then
hand-carry the organisms to any APHIS-approved
quarantine facility within the country.
APHIS-PPQ will amend existing permits that
specify "No hand-carry" after proper
arrangements are made with U.S.
Department of Homeland Security-Customs and
Border Protection (CPB) port staff (to
verify the hand-carrier is listed on the
permit) and with the responsible person at
the approved quarantine facility indicated
on the permit (to verify proper delivery
and content). For the process to work smoothly,
the traveler must have a permit from APHIS-PPQ
that specifically authorizes hand-carry.
The APHIS-PPQ permit unit will work with
other federal agencies such as CPB to ensure
smooth movement through the port of entry.
APHIS is close to a public release of "ePermits," their
new Web-based permitting system. For new
permits issued under ePermits, hand-carry
authorizations will be approved according
to arrangements indicated above. Contact
PPQ Permits, Registrations, Imports, and
Manuals at their general office number (301-734-8646)
or by e-mail for
more information. Specific questions on biological
control permitting should be addressed to
the following:
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