---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7711"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "7711"
heading: "Regulation of movement of plant pests"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7711"
units:
  - "Chapter 104 — Plant Protection"
  - "Subchapter I — Plant Protection"
---

# §7711. Regulation of movement of plant pests

- (a) **Prohibition of unauthorized movement of plant pests—** Except as provided in [subsection (c)](#c), no [person](/usc/7/7702.md?p=12) shall [import](/usc/7/7702.md?p=5), [enter](/usc/7/7702.md?p=3), [export](/usc/7/7702.md?p=4), or [move](/usc/7/7702.md?p=9) in [interstate commerce](/usc/7/7702.md?p=7) any [plant pest](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14), unless the [importation](/usc/7/7702.md?p=5), [entry](/usc/7/7702.md?p=3), [exportation](/usc/7/7702.md?p=4), or [movement](/usc/7/7702.md?p=9) is authorized under general or specific [permit](/usc/7/7702.md?p=11) and is in accordance with such regulations as the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) may issue to prevent the introduction of [plant pests](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14) into the [United States](/usc/7/7702.md?p=20) or the dissemination of [plant pests](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14) within the [United States](/usc/7/7702.md?p=20).
- (b) **Requirements for processes—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) shall ensure that the processes used in developing regulations under [subsection (a)](#a) governing consideration of [import](/usc/7/7702.md?p=5) requests are based on sound science and are transparent and accessible.
- (c) **Authorization of movement of plant pests by regulation—**
  - (1) **Exception to permit requirement—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) may issue regulations to allow the [importation](/usc/7/7702.md?p=5), [entry](/usc/7/7702.md?p=3), [exportation](/usc/7/7702.md?p=4), or [movement](/usc/7/7702.md?p=9) in [interstate commerce](/usc/7/7702.md?p=7) of specified [plant pests](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14) without further restriction if the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) finds that a [permit](/usc/7/7702.md?p=11) under [subsection (a)](#a) is not necessary.
  - (2) **Petition to add or remove plant pests from regulation—** Any [person](/usc/7/7702.md?p=12) may petition the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) to add a [plant pest](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14) to, or remove a [plant pest](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14) from, the regulations issued by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) under [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
  - (3) **Response to petition by the Secretary—** In the case of a petition submitted under [paragraph (2)](#c-2), the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) shall act on the petition within a reasonable time and notify the petitioner of the final action the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) takes on the petition. The [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16)’s determination on the petition shall be based on sound science.
- (d) **Prohibition of unauthorized mailing of plant pests—**
  - (1) **In general—** Any letter, parcel, box, or other package containing any [plant pest](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14), whether sealed as letter-rate postal matter or not, is nonmailable and shall not knowingly be conveyed in the mail or delivered from any post office or by any mail carrier, unless the letter, parcel, box, or other package is mailed in compliance with such regulations as the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) may issue to prevent the dissemination of [plant pests](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14) into the [United States](/usc/7/7702.md?p=20) or [interstate](/usc/7/7702.md?p=6).
  - (2) **Application of postal laws and regulations—** Nothing in this subsection authorizes any [person](/usc/7/7702.md?p=12) to open any mailed letter or other mailed sealed matter except in accordance with the postal laws and regulations.
- (e) **Regulations—** Regulations issued by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) to implement subsections [(a)](#a), [(c)](#c), and [(d)](#d) may include provisions requiring that any [plant pest](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14) imported, entered, to be exported, moved in [interstate commerce](/usc/7/7702.md?p=7), mailed, or delivered from any post office—
  - (1) be accompanied by a [permit](/usc/7/7702.md?p=11) issued by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) prior to the [importation](/usc/7/7702.md?p=5), [entry](/usc/7/7702.md?p=3), [exportation](/usc/7/7702.md?p=4), [movement](/usc/7/7702.md?p=9) in [interstate commerce](/usc/7/7702.md?p=7), mailing, or delivery of the [plant pest](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14);
  - (2) be accompanied by a certificate of inspection issued (in a manner and form required by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16)) by appropriate officials of the country or [State](/usc/7/7702.md?p=17) from which the [plant pest](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14) is to be moved;
  - (3) be raised under post-[entry](/usc/7/7702.md?p=3) quarantine conditions by or under the supervision of the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) for the purposes of determining whether the [plant pest](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14)—
    - (A) may be infested with other [plant pests](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14);
    - (B) may pose a significant risk of causing injury to, damage to, or disease in any [plant](/usc/7/7702.md?p=13) or [plant product](/usc/7/7702.md?p=15); or
    - (C) may be a [noxious weed](/usc/7/7702.md?p=10); and
  - (4) be subject to remedial measures the [Secretary](/usc/7/7702.md?p=16) determines to be necessary to prevent the spread of [plant pests](/usc/7/7702.md?p=14).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–224, title IV, § 411, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 440.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to agricultural import and entry inspection activities under this chapter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 231, 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.