programs for agricultural invasive pests

The U.S. and most of its trading partners have adopted or endorsed policies to lower trade barriers and encourage international trade under such international agreements as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the proposed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA). At the same time, the U.S. and its trading partners conduct negotiations to prevent and control invasions of nonnative species under the International Plant Protection Convention, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.

In addition, nations establish regulations under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures to prevent the spread of invasive species through trade flows. The International Office of Epizootics (OIE) harmonizes trade regulations in animals and animal products for member nations, as well as providing information about the occurrence and control of animal diseases and international coordination of studies concerning surveillance and control of such diseases.

In the U.S., a number of Federal departments and agencies address invasive species. Executive Order 13112 in 1999 created the National Invasive Species Council, which includes the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Interior, State, Transportation, and Treasury, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Within USDA, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has a major role in preventing and controlling invasive crop pests and livestock diseases, while other agencies support research and technical and financial assistance.

The primary programs for managing invasive species are pest exclusion, surveillance, and control (including eradication and longer term management). APHIS is the primary Federal agency addressing agricultural pests, but port-of-entry inspections are handled by a former component of APHIS and the former Customs Service in what is now the Bureau of Customs and Border Inspection under the Department of Homeland Security.

Exclusion programs include port-of-entry inspections of passengers, baggage, and freight entering the U.S. from other countries, which sometimes occur in the country of origin, and offshore programs to monitor and control specific pests in other countries and prevent their entry into the U.S. Exclusion programs identify pests to exclude, goods that can be imported from specific countries, and inspections, treatments, or other practices required of goods or means of storage and transportation to meet U.S. animal health or phytosanitary standards for entry.

However, exclusion programs cannot be perfect, so APHIS also cooperates with States to detect and monitor pests in the U.S. and has a variety of programs to eradicate or manage some pests that have entered the U.S. APHIS has special programs to address new discoveries of some invasive pests that have the potential to cause severe damage to agricultural production or to cause other countries to stop purchasing U.S. agricultural exports. APHIS also certifies that U.S. exports meet the animal health and phytosanitary requirements of other countries.

A number of Federal laws govern USDA policies and actions, including the Plant Protection Act, the Federal Seed Act, the Noxious Weed Act, the Animal Damage Control Act, and the Animal Health Protection Act. In addition, under various laws concerning public land management, research, and cooperation with Federal, State, and private entities, the Forest Service has a major role in preventing and controlling invasive pests on public and private forests and grasslands.

Important policies include protection or exclusion (risk assessments, lists of excluded or permitted species, preclearance of import shipments, inspection, quarantines, and treatment), early detection of species that have entered and rapid response with control or eradication measures, control or management of species that have become established, and international cooperation to control or prevent the spread of species. In addition, crop insurance and indemnification programs can mitigate the damages of these pests. In some circumstances, growers control or manage established, nonnative pests without government assistance.

for more information, contact: Craig Osteen
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: March 17, 2003