Across 

the Nation

At the 

Border

The Safeguarding Continuum

To protect American farms and forests from harmful plant pests and foreign animal diseases, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) has a system of safeguards in place. Those safeguards begin abroad in other 

countries, continue through U.S. ports of entry, and extend across the Nation. This system is called the Safeguarding Continuum.

All along the continuum, PPQ experts assess risks associated with pests that hitchhike on and in the agricultural products 

we import. They also take action in the right time and place to protect U.S. agriculture and natural resources while keeping 

international trade and travel moving. Here’s how it works:

METHODS DEVELOPMENT We use the 

latest science and technology to develop 

methods for detecting, identifying, and 

keeping harmful plant pests and diseases 

out of this country.

TRADE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

We analyze import data, conduct riskbased inspections, and work with other 

government agencies to stop the entry and 

distribution of unlawful agricultural goods 

that could bring harmful plant pests or 

animal disease into this country.

EXPORT CERTIFICATION We work with 

State and county partners to inspect and 

certify plants and plant products being 

shipped to markets overseas.

PLANT QUARANTINE PROGRAMS

We offer a number of plant quarantine 

programs to growers, breeders, and 

scientists who wish to import prohibited or 

high-risk plant materials for improving U.S. 

agriculture. Through these programs, we 

test, clean, and monitor imported plants 

to ensure they are pest- and disease-free 

before they can enter into production.

PEST SURVEILLANCE AND RESPONSE 

We work with State departments of 

agriculture and others to continuously scan 

the U.S. landscape and quickly find and 

respond to new pests and diseases before 

they can cause large-scale damage to our 

Nation’s farms and forests.

PEST MANAGEMENT When foreign pests 

become established in the United States, 

we work closely with Federal, State, Tribal, 

and industry partners to control and, when 

possible, eliminate them from our country.

CROSS-CUTTING SERVICES Underpinning 

all of our work are the services of our 

professional staff who are responsible for 

administration, budget, communication, 

information technology, and training. 

IMPORT REQUIREMENTS AND PERMITTING

We develop science-based regulations 

and issue import permits that detail 

requirements and conditions for safely 

importing a wide variety of agricultural 

products into the United States.

INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER AND CARGO 

CLEARANCE We train U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection personnel who clear 

the cargo, trains, trucks, ships, mail, and 

express packages that cross our borders to 

make sure they don’t bring unwanted pests 

into our country. We also establish and 

enforce handling and disposal requirements 

for food and agricultural products removed 

from passenger aircraft and ships arriving 

from foreign locations.

DOMESTIC PASSENGER AND CARGO 

CLEARANCE We inspect all U.S. mainlandbound aircraft, cargo, and traveler bags 

from Hawaii and Puerto Rico to keep 

unwanted pests from hitchhiking along.

PEST IDENTIFICATION AND RISK 

MITIGATION We identify plant pests and 

diseases found in imported shipments 

at U.S. ports of entry and determine what 

actions to take to reduce or eliminate 

the threat posed by intercepted pests 

or diseases.

LIVE PLANT INSPECTION We inspect live 

plants, plant cuttings, and seeds arriving 

in the United States. We also enforce the 

Convention on International Trade in 

Endangered Species and work with others 

to combat illegal timber trade.

PORT ENVIRONS SURVEYS We monitor 

areas around U.S. ports of entry for signs 

of pests that may have escaped into the 

environment.

PHYTOSANITARY ISSUES MANAGEMENT 

We work with countries around the world 

to establish fair, science-based plant 

health requirements for imported and 

exported commodities.

RISK AND PATHWAY ANALYSIS AND 

TARGETING We analyze data from 

around the world to figure out which 

pests could harm U.S. agriculture, how 

they might get here, and what we need to 

do to keep them out of the United States.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS SETTING

We work with over 180 countries and 

international organizations to harmonize 

rules of trade for agricultural products to 

prevent the introduction and spread of 

invasive pests and diseases and facilitate 

safe trade.

OFFSHORE PROGRAMS We work 

with foreign countries to address pest 

threats where they originate. This 

includes inspecting and certifying fruits, 

vegetables, bulbs, and plants in many 

countries and working with the U.S. 

military to inspect and certify equipment 

and household goods, all before they 

ship to the United States.

Around 

the World

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

APHIS-22-019 | Issued May 2022

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