Plant and Plant Product Trade Contacts
Not sure who to contact? We can help!
Select an option from the list below.
- pay user fees or ask about user fee-related policies
- ask questions about using the Automated Commercial Environment to submit APHIS-required import data for plants, animals, or their products
- bring plants or plant products into the United States when traveling or ask about import or transit permits and requirements for plants, plant products, or related materials
- ask about the Lacey Act declaration requirement
- ask about offshore agricultural commodity preclearance activities in foreign countries or offshore certification programs
- become an approved facility to handle regulated garbage or ask about related policy
- report illegal or smuggled agricultural products or learn how to import agricultural goods legally
- check the status of a propagative material shipment, notify us of a pending shipment, or ask about local clearance processes
- check the status of product that is located at a USDA plant germplasm facility
- find an export certification specialist in my State or ask about export requirements for plants or plant products
Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection User Fees
APHIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection work together at our Nation's ports of entry to provide Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) services. Contact our program specialists for questions about AQI user fees, including payments, how we set the fees, and related policies.
Cost and Fee Analysis Division
Email: aqi.user.fees@usda.gov
Phone: 301-851-2338
For financial and remittance submission questions:
Accounts Receivable Team
AQI Accounts Receivable Team
USDA, APHIS, AQI
P.O. Box 979044
St. Louis, MO 63197
USDA, APHIS, AQI
Attn: Gov’t Lockbox, P.O. Box 979044
1005 Convention Plaza | St. Louis, MO 63101
For U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) policy questions:
CBP’s Agriculture Program and Trade Liaison Process Resolution and Risk Management branch
CBP Agriculture Programs and Trade Liaison
Email: aptlprocessres@cbp.dhs.gov
Automated Commercial Environment
Contact APHIS' Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) team if you have technical questions about using the APHIS Core Message Set to file APHIS-required import data in ACE for plants, animals, or their products.
APHIS Core Message Set Help Desk
Email: ace.itds@usda.gov
Phone: 833-481-2102
ACE Team
Email: ace.itds@usda.gov
Import Permits and Requirements for Plants and Plant Products
Travelers and importers may contact specialists with APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program for a wide range of questions. We can advise on permits and requirements for importing plants and plant products (including wood, wood products, endangered plant species, and transit shipments) and what products are and are not allowed into the United States from abroad. We can also answer questions about permits for plant pests, plant pathogens, biological control agents, bees, plant pest diagnostic laboratories, soil, soil microbe isolation laboratories, Federal noxious weeds, and parasitic plants.
For help with transit permits (PPQ Form 586):
Transit Permits Team
Email: ppq.transit.permits@usda.gov
Phone: 877-770-5990
For help with controlled import permits (PPQ Form 588):
Controlled Import Permits Team
Email: controlled.import.permits@usda.gov
Phone: 301-851-2046
For help with postentry quarantine permits (PPQ Form 546):
Postentry Quarantine Permits Team
Email: plantsforplantingpermits@usda.gov
Phone: 301-851-2322
For general questions:
Plant Permits Team
Email: plantproducts.permits@usda.gov
Phone: 877-770-5990
For help complying with the Lacey Act declaration requirement:
Lacey Act Team
For questions about CITES (endangered plant species)
CITES Team
Phone: 301-851-2347
For questions about permits for regulated organisms and soil:
Pest Permits Team
Lacey Act Declaration
Under the Lacey Act, it is unlawful to import into the United States any plant or plant product that was illegally harvested. It is also unlawful to import certain products without a declaration. Our specialists can help you understand the Lacey Act declaration requirements, determine whether your product needs a declaration, and answer questions about how to file a declaration.
For help complying with the Lacey Act declaration requirement:
Lacey Act Team
Commodity Preclearance and Offshore Monitoring Programs
Importers, producers, growers, industry representatives, and others may contact specialists with APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine program for questions about our preclearance and offshore certification activities. This includes offshore agricultural commodity preclearance activities in foreign countries, certification of offshore plant production facilities in foreign countries, and the Offshore Greenhouse Certification Program.
Preclearance Team
Email: aphis-ppq-pop-pmt@usda.gov
Regulated Garbage
U.S.-based companies, aircraft cleaners, cartage firms, fixed-base operators, and others may contact APHIS plant health program specialists for questions about handling regulated garbage. We can advise on current policy for handling regulated garbage at U.S. ports of entry and, for those interested, assist you in becoming an approved facility.
To become an approved facility:
Regulated Garbage Facilities
Field Operations, c/o AQI VMO Director
2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. B
Fort Collins, CO 80526
To ask about the policy:
Regulated Garbage Policy Team
Phone: 301-851-3128
Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance
Contact APHIS' Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance staff if you think an agricultural product was imported into the United States without proper clearance. We can also answer questions about how to import agricultural goods (including animal products and byproducts) legally.
Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance
Email: sitc.mail@usda.gov
Fax: 800-877-3835
Plant Inspection Stations
Most imported plant material intended for propagation must transit through a USDA Plant Inspection Station to complete clearance and processing. Contact your nearest station to check the status of a shipment or notify us of a pending shipment. Our staff can also answer questions about local clearance processes.
Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program
Importers may contact APHIS' Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program for questions about the status of a product at one of our facilities.
Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program
Phone: 301-313-9315
Export Certification
APHIS has Certification Specialists nationwide with expertise in export programs for plants and plant products. Contact the specialist in your State for questions about requirements for exporting commodities to another country.