USDA Consolidates Import Regs for Plants and Plant Products

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April 10, 2014

In today’s Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule revising regulations concerning permits for importation or interstate movement of plants and plant products.  The rule seeks to simplify and clarify existing regulations by establishing a new subpart in Section 319 of the Plant Protection Act.  The new subpart, Section 319.7 to 319.7-5, outlines the permit application process as well as information required in an application.  Additionally, it explains which provisions the USDA will use to approve, deny or revoke a permit.  The final rule makes several modifications to the rule proposed last June, including allowing importers to specify a range of ports of first arrival instead of limited them to one.  These new regulations will take effect on May 12, 2014.

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