United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 1997

As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

overall eGovernment initiative to transform and enhance 

the delivery of its programs, services, and information, the 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has 

implemented an electronic permitting system called ePermits. The ePermits system is a Web-based tool that gives 

customers online access to agricultural permits. 

What Does 

ePermits 

Mean for You?

ePermits means no paperwork, no business hours, and 

no hassles. Switching from a 

paper-based to a Web-based system also means improved 

turnaround times and better customer service. ePermits 

gives APHIS customers the ability to apply for a permit, 

check its status, and pay application fees online—anytime, 

anywhere. APHIS customers can save a tremendous 

amount of time and effort by submitting applications and 

receiving permits via the ePermits system. The system 

also enables Federal regulatory officials to issue, track, and 

rapidly verify the validity of import permits, thus reducing 

the time and expense for processing and delivering permits. 

For More Information

For information on ePermits and eAuthentication, 

please visit APHIS’ Web site at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/permits

If you have additional questions on specific permitting 

activities, please call the PPQ program at 301-734-

0841 or VS program at 301-734-3277. For questions 

related to BRS permits and notifications, please send 

an e-mail to biotechquery@aphis.usda.gov. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in 

all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, 

age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental 

status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not 

all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative 

means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should 

contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of 

discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., 

Washington, D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–6382 (TDD). USDA 

is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Issued February 2009

Online Access 

For Permit Applicants
User Registration T

o comply with government-wide initiatives, 

ePermits users are required to complete 

a registration process called eAuthentica-

tion. USDA’s eAuthentication is a system that 

enables individuals to obtain user-identification 

accounts in order to access certain USDA Web 

applications and services online. 

The eAuthentication system identifies and 

validates USDA customers before they can 

use participating USDA Web-based business 

applications. This system provides a unique 

user-identification code that a USDA Web user 

can present to any participating USDA Web 

site. This ensures that customers only have 

to register once to use USDA online systems, 

thereby reducing the burden on customers to 

register for and maintain separate identities for 

every online system.

An Eye to the 

Future A

PHIS developed the ePermits system as part 

of an eGovernment effort to improve access, 

enhance service delivery, and increase internal 

efficiency through technology-based solutions. 

The ePermits system is a broad initiative that 

has been in development for several years and 

is now being implemented in multiple phases. 

As part of this ongoing effort, APHIS will con-

tinue building on the ePermits system by adding 

new services and functions to accommodate its 

customers and improve the Agency’s efficiency. 

Who Can Apply?

VS

Currently, customers seeking permits issued by 

APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Vet-

erinary Services (VS), and Biotechnology Regulatory 

Services (BRS) programs can apply online for them 

through the ePermits system.

PPQ Form 525 Application for Permit to Receive Soil

PPQ Form 526 Application for Permit to Move Live 

Plant Pests or Noxious Weeds 

PPQ Form 546 Agreement for Postentry Quarantine 

State Screening Notice

PPQ Form 585 Application for Permit to Import Timber 

or Timber Products

PPQ Form 586 Application for Permit to Transit Plants 

and/or Plant Products Through the 

United States

PPQ Form 587 Application for Permit to Import Plants 

or Plant Products

PPQ Form 588 Application for Permit to Import Plants 

and Plant Products for Experimental 

Purposes

PPQ Form 621 Application for Protected Plant 

Permit to Engage in the Business of 

Importing, Exporting, or Reexporting 

Terrestrial Plants

Plant Protection and Quarantine

PPQ requires permits for the importation into and 

transit of plants and plant products through the 

United States and the importation and interstate 

movement of plant pests (such as insects, mites, 

snails, slugs, and plant pathogens), biological 

control organisms of plant pests, noxious weeds, 

and soil. 

Veterinary Services

VS requires permits for the importation of certain 

animals and animal products. In addition, a 

VS permit is required for the importation and 

interstate movement of bacteria, viruses, or prion 

agents that are disease agents of animals and 

poultry. 

Biotechnology Regulatory Services

BRS requires a permit or notification for the 

importation, interstate movement, and field 

release of genetically engineered organisms 

considered to be regulated articles. 

VS 16-3 Application to Import or Transport Controlled 

Material or Organisms or Vectors

VS 16-7 Additional Information for Cell Cultures and 

Their Products (Supplement to VS 16-3)

VS Notification of On-Hold Shipment

BRS

PPQ

The following PPQ permits are available online:

The following VS permits are available online:

The following BRS permits and notifications

are available online:

Biotechnology Notifications

Biotechnology Permits