Regulated Organism and Soil Permits
APHIS Revises the Regulations for the Movement of Plant Pests and Biocontrol Agents
The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a final rule to revise the regulations in Title 7 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 330 that govern the movement of plant pests. The final rule aligns plant pest regulations with current APHIS policies, removes obsolete requirements, streamlines the permit process for low risk organisms, and updates requirements for the import of foreign soil.
Under the authority of the Plant Protection and Honeybee Acts, a Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) 526 permit is required for the importation, interstate movement and environmental release of plant pests (plant feeding insects, mites, snails, slugs, and plant pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.), biological control organisms of plant pests and weeds, bees, parasitic plants, and Federally listed noxious weeds.
APHIS also requires a 526 permit for the importation and interstate movement of soil or other potentially infected host material for the purpose of isolating or culturing microorganisms from those materials. Those materials may include but are not necessarily restricted to; plant material, insects/arthropods, environmental samples such as water, dust, sediments, etc. If the organism is imported on/in host material, no separate permit is required for the host material if the host material is not intended for propagation.
APHIS is authorized to inspect shipments and/or facilities at any time to verify compliance with permit conditions. Receipt of a PPQ permit does not relieve the applicant from the obligation to comply with the regulations of other Federal, State, and local agencies (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Environmental Protection Agency).
PPQ 526 Permit
The PPQ 526 permit is required for the importation, interstate movement, possession, and/or environmental release of the following:
- Insects and Mites
- Bees
- Butterfiles and Moths
- Biocontrol Organisms
- Pet Food, Fish Bait, and Animal Feed
- Invertebrate Pets
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Mycoplasms, and Nematodes
- Snails and Slugs
- Federal Noxious Weeds and Parasitic Plants
- Earthworms
- Soil
- Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera
- Plant Growth Enhancers
Frequently Asked Questions
View a list of the commonly asked questions and concerns associated with the application process for a permit to move live plant pests or noxious weeds.
How To Apply for a PPQ 526 Permit
APHIS offers both the online APHIS eFile system and a manual process for application submission. PPQ strongly recommends applicants submit permit applications online, via the APHIS eFile system because the online system efficiently provides applicants electronic access to their applications and permits. Select the following link to start the application process.
Shipping Labels
- Shipping Requirements for Importing Regulated Organisms Requiring Red and White Labels
- Shipping Requirements for Importing Regulated Soil Requiring Black, White, Green, Yellow Labels
Containment Facility Inspections
A facility inspection may be required before a PPQ 526 Permit is issued. A PPQ inspector will document aspects of the facility to determine if the facility and equipment are adequate for containment of the organism(s). A PPQ containment specialist will evaluate the documentation and determine if the facility is adequate. In most cases, if the application is for the receipt of foreign organisms (i.e., foreign strain, biotype, race, isolate) or a Program Pest (i.e., currently under federal quarantine) the facility must be inspected. Diagnostic facilities are also inspected. The applicant will be informed if their facility must be inspected after review of the permit application. Guidelines are available.
Contact Us
For questions about permits for regulated organisms and soil:
Pest Permits Team
Stakeholder/Customer Satisfaction Survey
One of the goals and objectives of the APHIS-PPQ- Permit Unit's Quality Management System is to increase our customer service awareness. To address this, we are initiating our Stakeholder/Customer Satisfaction Survey to hear from you. We need your valuable feedback to help us evaluate and improve our customer service. We would like to thank you in advance for completing the survey.