Methyl Bromide

Permits

Whitefly Taxonomic and Ecological Website

USDA/APHIS/PPQ/Preclearance
4700 River Rd., Unit 60
Riverdale, MD 20737

Phone: 301-734-8892
    Fax: 301-734-8318

Overview

Approval Protocol for
Establishing Preclearance
(includes workplan,
cooperative agreement)

APHIS Preclearance Programs Chart

• Conducting offshore agricultural commodity preclearance
  inspections, treatments and/or other mitigation measures in
  foreign countries under the direct supervision of qualified
  APHIS personnel in accordance with phytosanitary procedures specified by the Agency;
  
• Supporting trade facilitation and pest exclusion by approving and/or proposing new programs;
  
• Expediting the movement of commodities and give additional protection to U.S. Agriculture; and
  
• Ensuring conformance with program guidelines and APHIS preclearance protocols.

Preclearance is located within the Quarantine Policy Analysis and Support, PPQ staff. Preclearance is committed to providing high quality, timely services to our customers. In conjunction with International Services (IS), preclearance inspections, treatments and/or other mitigations measures are conducted in foreign countries under the direct supervision of qualified APHIS personnel in accordance with phytosanitary procedures specified by the Agency. These procedures are designed to identify and/or mitigate the risk of exotic pest introductions through action taken in foreign countries. Integrity checks to ensure conformance with the program guidelines may be conducted at the U.S. port of entry.

Proposals for agricultural commodity preclearance programs are typically developed jointly by the host country plant protection service and participating industry. If requested, APHIS will provide appropriate host country officials with assistance in work plan development.

Preclearance program authorization and implementation is contingent upon host country ability to effectively demonstrate that their proposed program meets or exceeds criteria included in APHIS' protocols. Any deviation from established protocols must have the expressed approval of APHIS, PPQ, and IS. If a program is suspended for pest-risk reasons, the host country must provide details of proposed corrective or additional actions and PPQ must agree on reactivation.