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Plant Import

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.

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APHIS Actions:

August 14, 2012, This Federal Order replaces SPRO#: DA-2011-26, dated May 5, 2011, and updates the trapping requirements for tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, for detection and surveillance. Pursuant to this Federal Order, T. absoluta host material from affected countries must meet the conditions in this order. This Federal Order is effective September 13, 2012.
April 18, 2012, APHIS is issuing a Federal Order to restrict importation of plants for planting known to be hosts of P. ramorum.
December 14, 2011, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order (FO) is to prevent the entry or introduction into the United States of the exotic quarantine pest Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts). Federal Order for Commercial Shipments of Soybeans (Glycine max), Safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius), and Chickpeas (Cicer spp.) from Countries with Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts). This Federal Order will be effective on January 17, 2012
December 14, 2011, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order (FO) is to prevent the entry or introduction into the United States of the exotic quarantine pest Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts). Federal Order for Non-Commercial Shipments of Soybeans (Glycine max), Chickpeas (Cicer spp.), and Safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorious) from Countries with Khapra beetle.
July 8, 2011, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order (FO) is to prevent the entry or introduction into the United States of the exotic quarantine pest Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts). The APHIS Administrator has determined that non-commercial quantities of rice from countries where Khapra beetle is known to occur will be prohibited from entering the United States. This Federal Order will be effective on July 30, 2011.
July 8, 2011, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order (FO) is to prevent the entry or introduction into the United States of the exotic quarantine pest Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts). The APHIS Administrator has determined that commercial shipments of rice from countries that have Khapra beetle must be inspected and must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate or a Phytosanitary Certificate of Reexport, with an Additional Declaration stating that “The shipment was inspected and found free of Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium). This Federal Order will be effective on July 30, 2011.
May 22, 2011, The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the entry of certain pests of firewood moving from Canada into the United States, and to prevent the entry of brown spruce longhorn beetle on spruce logs (Picea spp.) from where it exists in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.
May 5, 2011, This Federal Order replaces SPRO#: DA-2011-12, dated March 9, 2011, and updates the trapping requirements for tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, for detection and surveillance. Pursuant to this Federal Order, T. absoluta host material from affected countries must meet the conditions in this order.
April 19, 2011, The purpose ofthis Federal Order is to prevent the entry or introduction of the harmful plant pest, Anastrepha obliqua (West Indian fruit fly), from St. Vincent and the Grenadines into the United States. This Federal Order is effective on April 19,2011.
April 1, 2011, The purpose of this Federal Order (FO) revises and replaces the FO for two harmful plant pests, Citrus Longhorned Beetle (CLB), Anoplophora chinensis (Forster) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), A. glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), previously issued on January 16, 2009.
March 9, 2011, The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the entry or introduction of the harmful plant pest, the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917), from foreign countries into the United States.
January 14, 2011, [Revised] APHIS is revising and re-issuing this Federal Order (December 20, 2010) to prevent the introduction or the dissemination of several harmful pests into the United States, including Helicoverpa armigera (Cotton bollworm), Mamestra brassicae (Cabbage moth), Autographa gamma (Silver-Y moth), on Cut Flowers from the Netherlands. This Federal Order is effective on January 20, 2011.
December 21, 2010, The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the entry or introduction of harmful honey bee diseases and/or parasites from Australia into the United States including the territories.
November 10, 2010, The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the introduction into the United States of the harmful plant pest Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, causal agent of bacterial canker of kiwifruit.
April 28, 2010, The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the entry or introduction of the harmful plant pest, the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917), from foreign countries into the United States.
Tuta absoluta
January 25, 2010, This Federal Order prevents the introduction and dissemination of the harmful plant pests Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Red Palm Weevil), R. palmarum Linnaeus (Giant Palm Weevil), and Bursaphelenchus cocophilus Cobb (Red Ring Nematode) from foreign countries into the United States.
January 7, 2010, This Federal Order prevents the introduction into the United States of the harmful bacterial plant pest, Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi, causal agent of bleeding canker of horse chestnut.
December 24, 2009, The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the entry or introduction of the harmful plant pest, the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917), from foreign countries into the United States.
September 8, 2009, The purpose of this SPRO is to provide notification that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will take action on commodities imported into the United States if pea leaf miner is detected, regardless of the state of destination. The effective date will be November 1, 2009.
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.

Asian Longhorned Beetle

April 1, 2011, The purpose of this Federal Order (FO) revises and replaces the FO for two harmful plant pests, Citrus Longhorned Beetle (CLB), Anoplophora chinensis (Forster) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), A. glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), previously issued on January 16, 2009.
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.

Bactrocera invadens

May 8, 2009, APHIS imposes new import requirements on certain fruits and vegetables originating from countries where Bactrocera invadens is known to exist.

Citrus Longhorned Beetle

April 1, 2011, The purpose of this Federal Order (FO) revises and replaces the FO for two harmful plant pests, Citrus Longhorned Beetle (CLB), Anoplophora chinensis (Forster) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), A. glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), previously issued on January 16, 2009.
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.

Climbing Fern

May 30, 2008, APHIS restricts the importation of Lygodium microphyllum(Old World climbing fern) and Lygodium flexuosum(maidenhair creeper).

Cut Flowers

January 14, 2011, APHIS is revising and re-issuing this Federal Order (December 20, 2010) to prevent the introduction or the dissemination of several harmful pests into the United States, including Helicoverpa armigera (Cotton bollworm), Mamestra brassicae (Cabbage moth), Autographa gamma (Silver-Y moth), on Cut Flowers from the Netherlands. This Federal Order is effective on January 20, 2011.
December 20, 2010, APHIS requires that shipments of cut flowers from the Netherlands be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate.

Firewood

May 22, 2011, The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the entry of certain pests of firewood moving from Canada into the United States, and to prevent the entry of brown spruce longhorn beetle on spruce logs (Picea spp.) from where it exists in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.
October 17, 2008, APHIS requires heat treatment for firewood of all hardwood (non-coniferous) species from Canada being imported into the United States.

Honey Bees

December 21, 2010, This Federal Order, effective December 21, 2010, removes Australia from the list of approved regions for the importation of adult honey bees.

Khapra beetle

December 14, 2011, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order (FO) is to prevent the entry or introduction into the United States of the exotic quarantine pest Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts). Federal Order for Commercial Shipments of Soybeans (Glycine max), Safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius), and Chickpeas (Cicer spp.) from Countries with Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts). This Federal Order will be effective on January 17, 2012
December 14, 2011, The purpose and goal of this Federal Order (FO) is to prevent the entry or introduction into the United States of the exotic quarantine pest Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts). Federal Order for Non-Commercial Shipments of Soybeans (Glycine max), Chickpeas (Cicer spp.), and Safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorious) from Countries with Khapra beetle.
July 8, 2011, The APHIS Administrator has determined that non-commercial quantities of rice from countries where Khapra beetle is known to occur will be prohibited from entering the United States. This Federal Order will be effective on July 30, 2011.
July 8, 2011, The APHIS Administrator has determined that commercial shipments of rice from countries that have Khapra beetle must be inspected and must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate or a Phytosanitary Certificate of Reexport, with an Additional Declaration stating that “The shipment was inspected and found free of Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium). This Federal Order will be effective on July 30, 2011.

Huanglongbing Disease of Citrus and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis

October 13, 2009 - Infested Countries Added to Federal Quarantine Order for Citrus Greening (CG) Disease and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis (CVC)
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.

Palm Pests

January 25, 2010 - The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the introduction and dissemination of the harmful plant pests Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Red Palm Weevil), R. palmarum Linnaeus (Giant Palm Weevil), and Bursaphelenchus cocophilus Cobb (Red Ring Nematode) from foreign countries into the United States.

Pea Leaf Miner

September 8, 2009, The purpose of this SPRO is to provide notification that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will take action on commodities imported into the United States if pea leaf miner is detected, regardless of the state of destination.

Phytophthora alni

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.

Phytophthora ramorum

April 18, 2012, APHIS is issuing a Federal Order to restrict importation of plants for planting known to be hosts of P. ramorum.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi (bacterial canker of kiwifruit)

November 10, 2010, This Federal Order prevents the introduction into the United States of the harmful plant pest Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, causal agent of bacterial canker of kiwifruit.
January 7, 2010, This Federal Order prevents the introduction into the United States of the harmful bacterial plant pest, Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi, causal agent of bleeding canker of horse chestnut.

Tomato Virus

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.

Tuta absoluta

August 14, 2012, This Federal Order replaces SPRO#: DA-2011-26, dated May 5, 2011, and updates the trapping requirements for tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, for detection and surveillance. Pursuant to this Federal Order, T. absoluta host material from affected countries must meet the conditions in this order. This Federal Order is effective September 13, 2012.
May 5, 2011, This Federal Order replaces SPRO#: DA-2011-12, dated March 9, 2011, and updates the trapping requirements for tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, for detection and surveillance. Pursuant to this Federal Order, T. absoluta host material from affected countries must meet the conditions in this order.
March 9, 2011, This Federal Order replaces SPRO#: DA-2010-15, dated April 28, 2010, and updates the list of countries where the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, is known to occur by adding the countries of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Palestinian Authority (West Bank), Panama, and Saudi Arabia. Pursuant to this Federal Order, T. absoluta host material from affected countries must meet the conditions in this order. This Federal Order is effective on March 9, 2011.
April 28, 2010, This Federal Order updates the list of countries where the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, is known to occur, and replaces SPRO#: DA-2009-65, dated February 1, 2010. Federal Order, T. absoluta host material from affected countries must meet specific conditions listed in the Federal Order. This Federal Order is effective on May 13, 2010.
December 24, 2009, This Federal Order updates the list of countries where the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, is known to occur, and rreplaces Federal Order issued May 12, 2009. Federal Order, T. absoluta host material from affected countries must meet the conditions below. This Federal Order is effective on February 1, 2010.
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.

West Indian Fruit Fly

April 19, 2011, The purpose ofthis Federal Order is to prevent the entry or introduction of the harmful plant pest, Anastrepha obliqua (West Indian fruit fly), from St. Vincent and the Grenadines into the United States. This Federal Order is effective on April 19,2011.

Last Modified: August 15, 2012

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