Plant Protection and Quarantine

Through its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) protects our Nation’s agriculture and natural 

resources from invasive pests and diseases. This work promotes a healthy, abundant food supply for 

all Americans and a diverse natural ecosystem.     

Safeguarding America’s Agriculture 

Agriculture is our country’s largest industry and employer, 

adding more than $330 billion to the economy, supporting 

1 in 12 U.S. jobs, and providing American consumers with 

more than 80 percent of the food they eat. To protect this 

vital sector, PPQ:

n Carries out survey, detection, and response efforts to 

conserve our agricultural resources 

n Detects and responds to pest and disease outbreaks to 

eliminate them or prevent them from spreading

n Partners with the U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security’s Customs and Border Protection to inspect 

cargo, commercial vessels, and international passenger 

baggage and seize foreign agricultural pests before 

they can enter the country

n Carries out anti-smuggling activities to detect products 

that have entered the country unlawfully and pose a 

plant health risk

n Conducts activities offshore to fight pests and diseases 

in other countries before they have a chance to spread 

to the United States

n Partners with the U.S. Department of Defense to inspect 

military cargo, conveyances, and household goods in 

the country of origin to prevent the movement of soil, 

foreign animal diseases, and plant pests to our country

n Helps other countries develop robust pest control efforts 

to stop plant health threats at their source

n Issues permits for the safe import and transit of plants 

and products derived from plants, organisms, and soil

n Analyzes pest data to learn how potentially devastating 

plant pests and diseases could enter the country and 

spread

n Develops scientifically advanced, environmentally sound 

methods to respond to plant health threats

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine 

PPQ safeguards billions of dollars 

in U.S. agricultural products and 

protects nearly 600 million acres of 

forestland, rangelands, and other 

working lands from potentially 

devastating pests and diseases.

United States Department of Agriculture
Facilitating Safe Trade

International trade in agricultural products helps feed 

the world and adds hundreds of billions of dollars to the 

global economy. As America’s National Plant Protection 

Organization, PPQ helps ensure that billions of dollars 

of agricultural commodities are traded safely each year 

without moving invasive pests and diseases. This work 

strengthens the U.S. economy while protecting our 

agricultural and natural resources from foreign pests and 

diseases. PPQ:

n Leads the development of international plant health 

standards that ensure safe and fair global trade

n Works with trading partners to eliminate unjustified 

plant health barriers to U.S. products

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender.

Program Aid No. 2202a

Issued September 2016

n Creates and expands markets for U.S. producers by 

having technical discussions with other nations to 

resolve plant health issues

n Assists American farmers and exporters by inspecting 

and certifying plants and plant products being shipped 

to foreign countries 

n Assesses plant pest risks associated with each 

commodity import request and determines admissibility 

and import requirements

n Approves other countries’ new import commodity 

requests if the products can be imported safely

n Helps resolve issues holding up cargo at U.S. and 

foreign ports