Welcome to the California Department of Food and Agriculture

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Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services
Permits and Regulations Program

Questions concerning bringing houseplants, fruits, or vegetables into California, must be directed to our Pest Exclusion Branch at (916) 654-0312 or peinfo@cdfa.ca.gov. Information may also be obtained at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PE/.

Stephen Brown,
Special Assistant
Email: sbrown@cdfa.ca.gov

Liz Johnson,
Senior Agricultural Biologist
Email: ljohnson@cdfa.ca.gov

Eric Duggan,
Program Technician II
Email: eduggan@cdfa.ca.gov

1220 N Street, Room A-316
Sacramento, California 95814
Telephone: (916) 654-1017
FAX: (916) 654-1018

The permits and regulations program develops all regulations administered by Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services and develops associated legally required documents such as notices, statements of reason, orders, and certificates of compliance. This program also issues state permits involving agricultural pests and quarantine commodities as authorized under administrative regulations and the Food and Agricultural Code. This program also recommends approval or disapproval of applications for Federal permits which are issued by the USDA. These permits concern movement into California of plant pests, foreign soil, foreign post entry quarantine plant material, genetically engineered organisms, and foreign commodities normally prohibited entry into the United States.

California Food and Agriculture Code

For copies of the following USDA application forms, please contact our office or download from: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/

PPQ Form 526 - Application and Permit to Move Live Plant Pests or Noxious Weeds: This permit application is for the importation of live plant pests from within the United States and from foreign countries. The completed application should be submitted to the USDA. A recommendation is made by California agricultural officials and the application is forwarded to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for permit issuance.

PPQ Form 525A - Application for Permit to Receive Soil: This application is for the importation of soil from foreign countries. All soil is prohibited entry into the United States unless under a permit. Individuals requesting a permit for the importation of soil will have their facilities inspected by USDA and California agricultural officials, and will enter into a compliance agreement to ensure the proper handling and disposal of foreign soil. This application should be submitted to the USDA, Sacramento Work Unit, 650 Capitol Mall Suite 6-200 Sacramento, CA 95814.

PPQ Form 546 - Agreement for Postentry Quarantine--State Screening Notice: This agreement is for the importation of restricted plant material from foreign countries. This plant material is subject to inspection over a two-year period (six months for Chrysanthemum spp., one year for Dianthus spp.). Upon receipt of the agreement and PPQ Form 587, we will request that the county in which the plant material will be grown contact you and inspect the growing site. Upon approval by county officials, the agreement is forwarded, along with PPQ Form 587, to the USDA for permit issuance.

PPQ Form 587 - Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products: This application is for the importation of admissible and restricted plant material from foreign sources. This application is submitted directly to the USDA, except for restricted plant material (see PPQ Form 546). This department does not regulate the importation of pest-free admissible plant materials.

PPQ Form 588 - Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products for Experimental Purposes: This application is for the importation of plant material which is prohibited from entering the United States. These materials are permitted entry only under strict conditions. The application should be submitted to the USDA, APHIS, PPQ, 4700 River Road, Unit 136, Riverdale, Maryland 20737-1236 with a copy to this office.

For copies of the following CDFA forms, please contact our office or download Form 66-026 from this link:
Pest Exclusion Form 66-026 - Application and Permit to Move and Use Live Plant Pests or Insects or Noxious Weeds: This application is for the movement of live plant pests within California. For example, an individual who wishes to move a bacteria from Riverside to Fresno, would need to obtain a permit. This form should be submitted directly to this office for review and issuance of a permit.

Pest Exclusion Form 66-045 - Application and Permit to Move and Use Plant Quarantine Commodities: This application is used for the importation and movement of plant material which normally would not be allowed entry into California from areas within the U.S. or allowed movement within California due to plant pest quarantines.

If you have any questions, please contact either Stephen or Liz at the above numbers or email.