Materials Requiring a Permit

• CDC Import Permit

   

  

  A CDC Import Permit is required for the importation of etiological agents causing disease in humans, non-sterilized human or animal tissues/fluids known or suspected to contain disease agents, animal hosts/vectors known or suspected to contain disease agents. 

  Note that a laboratory inspection may be required before a permit is issued in order to ensure the applicant’s facility has appropriate measures in place to minimize the accidental release of biological agents capable of causing human disease.

   

• USDA/APHIS Plant Health Permit
  

  A USDA/APHIS Plant Health Permit is required for import or interstate movement of plant pests, plant pathogens, biological control agents, bees, plant pest diagnostic laboratories, soil microbe isolation laboratories, federal noxious weeds and parasitic plants.  The most common USDA permits for researchers are listed below but visit USDA/APHIS for the complete list.

   

   

  PPQ 525: Application for Permit to Receive Soil

  This application is for the importation of soil from foreign countries. All soil is prohibited entry into the United States unless under a permit. Individuals requesting a permit for soil importation will have their facilities inspected by both USDA and California agricultural officials, and must enter into a compliance agreement to ensure they properly handle and dispose of foreign soil. The method of processing this application is the same as for PPQ Form 526 below.

   

  PPQ 526: Application for Permit to Move Live Plant Pests or Noxious Weeds

  This permit application is for the importation of live plant pests from within the United States and from foreign countries. The applicant completes the application and submits it to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA notifies CDFA of the application and provides a copy for review. Upon completion of their review, California agricultural officials may make recommendations to USDA such as adding conditions to the permit. USDA then completes the application process. In rare instances, CDFA may recommend denial of the application.

  PPQ 546 - Application for Propagative Plants that Require Postentry Quarantine

  This agreement for postentry quarantine outlines requirements that must be met to grow plant material that have been imported for planting.  Will require a site inspection from the State inspector.

  PPQ 586: Application for Permit To Transit Plants and/or Plant Products, Plant Pests, and/or Associated Soil Through The United States

  Transit Permits are required by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) in advance of arrival for the unloading, landing or other movement of plants, plant products, plant pests, or soil in cargo through the United States. A PPQ Transit Permit lists specific conditions that must be met during the transit period. Typically, these conditions describe the corridor(s) that must be utilized during transit, time period(s) authorized for such movement, safeguarding methods for the shipments (e.g. packaging that prevents pest escape), and documentation that must be presented to authorities such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in an effort to minimize agricultural risk while allowing plants or plant products to transit through the United States.

  PPQ 587 - Application for Permit to Import Plants and Plant Products

  This permit is for the importation of plants for planting (including seeds), fruits and vegetables, rice, corn or maize, broomcorn and related plants, products associated with the Khapra Beetle, sugarcane products and by-products, foreign cotton and covers, and cut flowers.

  PPQ 588 - Controlled Import Permits to Import Plants or Plant Products for Experimental, Therapeutic, or Developmental Purposes

  A Controlled Import Permit (CIP) may be issued to authorize the importation of an article whose importation is prohibited or restricted. CIPs are intended for plants imported for:

  • Experimental purposes: Scientific testing to collect data and perform analytical processes under controlled conditions;
  • Therapeutic purposes: Specific scientific processes designed to eliminate, isolate, or remove potential plant pests or diseases;
  • Developmental purposes: Evaluate, monitor, or verify plant material for plant health risks and/or the adaptability of plant material for certain uses or environments.
• USDA/APHIS Veterinary Permit
  

  A USDA/APHIS Veterinary Permit is required for import and interstate movement of livestock disease agents (naturally occurring or engineered), derivatives of livestock disease agents, material known or reasonably expected to contain livestock disease agents, vectors of livestock diseases, animal products, or materials containing animal products. A USDA AHIS Veterinary Services (VS) Permit is also required for movement of microorganisms infectious to livestock/poultry including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi, arthropod vectors of livestock/poultry diseases, and tissues, blood, serum, or cells from known infected livestock/poultry. 

  The Veterinary Services Permitting Assistant (VSPA) provides guidance on APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) requirements for international import, international transit, and domestic interstate movement of VS-regulated commodities. You must complete the Permitting Assistant to learn the admissibility requirements for your commodity. You will only need to complete an application if a permit is required.

• Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS)
  

  A Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) import permit is required for the importation, interstate movement, or environmental release of certain organisms developed using genetic engineering that may pose a plant pest risk. 

  The Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) Permitting Assistant provides assistance with BRS’ regulatory requirements for importation, interstate movement, and environmental release of organisms modified or produced through genetic engineering.

• Federal Select Agent Program
  

  The possession, use, and transfer of Select Agents and Toxins (SAT) is regulated by the USDA/CDC Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP). The current list of Select Agents and Toxins can be found here.  Contact EH&S Biosafety before sending or requesting any Select Agents and Toxins. 

• California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
  

  A California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) permit is required for the movement into and within California of plant pests, foreign soil, foreign postentry quarantine plant material, genetically engineered organisms, noxious weeds, and foreign commodities normally prohibited entry into the United States. 

  Pest Exclusion Fill-in Form 66-026 - Application and Permit to Move and Use Live Plant Pests or Insects or Noxious Weeds

  This application is for the movement of live plant pests within California, including within counties, and is for entities who want to do diagnostics or work with plant pests. Examples of who should apply for this permit:

  • A laboratory performing diagnostic tests on plant or insect material.
  • An individual wishing to move viral, bacterial or fungal organisms within the state.
  • An individual moving non-exempt insects within the state.

  This permit does not exempt the holder from compliance with state interior quarantines or county ordinances.

  Fill-in Form 66-026L - Application for Permit to Process California Non-regulatory Samples for HLB Testing

  This application is for California non-regulatory Diagnostic Laboratory testing [Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) Tissue and Citrus Plant Tissue] for Huanglongbing (HLB). This permit will require the laboratory to undergo a facility site inspection by CDFA technical staff prior to issuance of a permit. The purpose of the permit conditions are to ensure the capability of private laboratories, without Certification by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Plant Pathogen Laboratory Accreditation Program (NPPLAP), to make accurate diagnostic determinations of all Suspect Positive Samples processed by them, and to enable replication and confirmation of these determinations by the CDFA.

  Fill-in Form 66-045 - Application and Permit to Move and Use Plant Quarantine Commodities

  This permit is generally used for moving commodities for commercial purposes that normally would not be allowed entry into California from areas within the U.S. or allowed movement within California due to plant pest quarantines. The conditions of the permit are biologically equivalent to those in the applicable state interior or exterior quarantine.

  Fill-in Form 66-045A - Application for a Permit to Import Seed Sweet Potatoes for Planting or Propagation

  Fill-in Form 66-105 - Approved Laboratory and Permit Agreement

  This application is for laboratories performing analytical testing of plant materials such as testing for pesticide residues or performing nutrient analyses. If you wish to perform diagnostic tests on plant material, application must be made on Form 66-026.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/ CA Fish and Wildlife
  

  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issues permits under various wildlife laws and treaties at different offices. Permits enable the public to engage in legitimate activities that would otherwise be prohibited by law.  This includes import/export of materials that would fall under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

  Similarly, California Department of Fish and Wildlife issues permits for fish, wildlife, and plant resources that have the potential to be either ecologically invasive or destructive to native species or can potentially threaten agricultural crops or livestock.