APHIS Final Rule Establishes Single 'Controlled Import Permit' for Restricted Plants

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued a final rule creating a single “controlled import permit” for authorization to import prohibited or restricted plant material for experimental, therapeutic, or developmental purposes. Effective May 31, the new permit will replace requirements for departmental permits in some cases, but APHIS-specified administrative instructions or conditions in others. The final rule adopts an October 2012 proposed rule with changes (see 11102453). According to APHIS, the new permit system “will consolidate and harmonize the conditions for obtaining authorization for the importation of otherwise prohibited or restricted plant material for scientific or certain other purposes.”