Federal Import Orders
A Federal Order is a legal document issued in response to an emergency when the Administrator of APHIS considers it necessary to take regulatory action to protect agriculture or prevent the entry and establishment into the United States of a pest or disease. Federal Orders are effective immediately and contain the specific regulatory requirements. Plant Protection and Quarantine issues Federal Orders under the regulatory authority provided by the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 7 U.S.C. 7712(a), which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the importation or entry of any plant, plant part, or article if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction or dissemination of a plant pest into or within the United States. Federal Orders will remain in effect until they are revised by another Federal Order or until an interim rule on the subject is published.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of PPQ Federal Orders. PPQ’s Emergency and Domestic Programs also issues Federal Orders to prohibit or restrict interstate movement. Federal Orders for emergency and domestic programs are posted on the APHIS site under the specific plant pest or disease program to which the Federal Order pertains. You can find a list of those programs at the Plant Pest Program Information homepage.
Click on a category, or scroll down to view lists:
Asian Longhorned Beetle | Bactrocera invadens | Citrus Longhorned Beetle | Climbing Fern | Firewood | Huanglongbing Disease of Citrus and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis | Phytophthora alni | Tomato Virus | Tuta absoluta
APHIS Actions:
- June 22, 2009, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order is to prevent the introduction and dissemination of the harmful plant pest Phytophthora alni, the causal organism of alder decline, from all foreign countries into the United States.
- May 12, 2009, This Federal Order is being issued to add Italy to the February 23, 2009 Federal Order on Tuta absoluta to prevent the introduction or the dissemination of this harmful plant pest into the United States.
- May 5, 2009, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order is to prohibit the importation of plants used for planting (not including seed) that are hosts of Tomato torrado virus (ToTV) and Tomato severe leaf curl virus (ToSLCV) from all countries, except Canada to prevent the introduction and dissemination of these harmful plant pathogens into the United States.
- May 8, 2009, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order is to prevent the entry or introduction into the
United States of the invasive fruit fly species, Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White. - February 27, 2009, APHIS announces that beginning, March 10, 2009, shipments of field-grown green tomatoes from certain countries will be required to meet additional import requirements to prevent the introduction and establishment of Tutu absoluta.
- January 16, 2009, APHIS announces plans to begin prohibiting importation into the United States of certain plants for planting from specific countries to prevent the introduction and dissemination of Asian Longhorned Beetle and Citrus Longhorned Beetle.
- October 17, 2008, APHIS requires heat treatment for firewood of all hardwood (non-coniferous) species from Canada being imported into the United States.
- May 30, 2008, APHIS restricts the importation of Lygodium microphyllum(Old World climbing fern) and Lygodium flexuosum(maidenhair creeper).
- January 29, 2008, APHIS restricts the importation of citrus seed to prevent the spread of the citrus diseases, Huanglongbing Disease of Citrus and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis.
- January 16, 2009, APHIS announces plans to begin prohibiting importation into the United States of certain plants for planting from specific countries to prevent the introduction and dissemination of Asian Longhorned Beetle and Citrus Longhorned Beetle.
- May 8, 2009, APHIS imposes new import requirements on certain fruits and vegetables originating from countries where Bactrocera invadens is known to exist.
- January 16, 2009, APHIS announces plans to begin prohibiting importation into the United States of certain plants for planting from specific countries to prevent the introduction and dissemination of Asian Longhorned Beetle and Citrus Longhorned Beetle.
- May 30, 2008, APHIS restricts the importation of Lygodium microphyllum(Old World climbing fern) and Lygodium flexuosum(maidenhair creeper).
- October 17, 2008, APHIS requires heat treatment for firewood of all hardwood (non-coniferous) species from Canada being imported into the United States.
Huanglongbing Disease of Citrus and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis
- January 29, 2008, APHIS restricts the importation of citrus seed to prevent the spread of the citrus diseases, Huanglongbing Disease of Citrus and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis.
- June 22, 2009, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order is to prevent the introduction and
dissemination of the harmful plant pest Phytophthora alni, the causal organism of alder
decline, from all foreign countries into the United States.
- May 5, 2009, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order is to prohibit the importation of plants used for planting (not including seed) that
are hosts of Tomato torrado virus (ToTV) and Tomato severe leaf curl virus (ToSLCV)
from all countries, except Canada to prevent the introduction and dissemination of
these harmful plant pathogens into the United States.
- May 12, 2009, This Federal Order is being issued to add Italy to the February 23, 2009 Federal Order on
Tuta absoluta to prevent the introduction or the dissemination of this harmful plant pest
into the United States. - February 27, 2009, APHIS announces that beginning, March 10, 2009, shipments of field-grown green tomatoes from certain countries will be required to meet additional import requirements to prevent the introduction and establishment of Tutu absoluta.
Last Modified: June 25, 2009