Commodity Import and Export Manuals

Commodity Import Manuals

Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Monitoring (AQIM)

Provides instructions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and PPQ employees on implementing AQIM at designated work locations, training employees on risk analysis and risk management basics, and using AQIM data to make better risk-based decisions.

• AQIM Handbook (October 2024)
• AQIM Worksheets
  • Air Cargo
  • Air Passenger Baggage
  • Mail Facility
  • Maritime Cargo
  • Northern Border Cargo - Perishables
  • Northern Border Vehicle
  • Preclearance Air Passenger
  • Predeparture Air Passenger -  AQI Monitoring Data (Hawaii and Puerto Rico)
  • Southern Border Cargo
  • Southern Border Vehicle
• AQIM Program Summary, Fiscal Year 2023

Bulb Inspection Manual

Provides instructions to officers who will inspect bulbs for shipment to North America.

• Bulb Identification Manual (December 2011)

CITES I-II-III Timber Species Manual

Provides U.S. Customs and Border Protection and PPQ personnel with procedures for enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) for Appendix I, Appendix II, and Appendix III timber species.

• CITES I-II-III Timber Species Manual (October 2024)
• Request for Services to Transport, Store, and/or Dispose of Seized or Forfeited Shipments (Fillable PDF Worksheet) 

Federally Recognized State Managed Phytosanitary Program Manual

Guides State Plant Regulatory Officials through the process of petitioning to establish and maintain a federally recognized State managed phytosanitary program.

• Federally Recognized State Managed Phytosanitary (FRSMP) Program Manual (November 2024)
• Petition Worksheet
• FRSMP Program Audit Checklist and Summary Report

Plants for Planting Manual

Details procedures U.S. Customs and Border Protection and PPQ officials should use to regulate imported plants and plant parts used for propagation.

• Plants for Planting Manual
• Use ACIR's "Facilities" search engine to find approved facilities by country and commodity/activity.

Treatment Manual

Guides PPQ employees in selecting and conducting chemical and nonchemical treatments to prevent the movement of agricultural pests into or within the United States. Note: The procedures and treatment schedules in this manual are authorized for use only by APHIS.

• Treatment Manual 
  • In-Transit Cold Treatment Approved Containers and Vessels Database
  • Supplemental Information: Methyl Bromide 2016 Label Comparison Table (166.34 KB) (April 2023)
• Use ACIR's "Facilities" search engine to find approved facilities by country and commodity/activity.

Commodity Export Manuals

Export Program Manual

Provides instructions to Federal, State, and county Authorized Certification Officials for inspecting plants and plant products and issuing Federal Export Certificates.

• Export Program Manual (October 2024)
  • State and County Fee Remittance Worksheet (403.35 KB)
  • Certificates Issued Worksheet (47.2 KB)
  • Checks Collected Worksheet (103.29 KB)
  • Refund Request Worksheet (57.02 KB)
  • Model Letter for Documenting Major Errors on an Export Certificate (43 KB)
  • Held Shipment Worksheet (63.71 KB)
  • Held Shipment Worksheet (21.1 KB)
  • Appendix F: Collecting State and County Export Certificate Fees (214.01 KB)