APHIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Publish Their 2022 – 2026 Joint Agency Strategic Plan

Contact

APHISPress@USDA.gov

WASHINGTON DC- November 9, 2022-- USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are pleased to announce the release of the 2022 – 2026 Joint Agency Strategic Plan for their shared Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) program.

The AQI program plays a critical role in protecting U.S. agriculture and the environment by preventing the introduction and spread of potentially devastating plant pests and animal and plant diseases. It protects America’s 1.1 trillion-dollar agricultural and food economy, the 2 million farms across the country, and the 331 million people living in the United States that rely on agricultural security to survive. 

APHIS and CBP work together at the Nation’s borders and ports of entry to carry out all AQI program activities to intercept and exclude any foreign agricultural pests that could affect U.S. agriculture, trade, and commerce. This joint mission is outlined under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and USDA 2003 Memorandum of Agreement.

Under this agreement, APHIS is responsible for developing regulations, policy, and procedures for the AQI program; providing risk analysis guidance; setting inspection protocols; inspecting imported propagative material; identifying pests found during APHIS and CBP inspections; training the AQI workforce across both agencies; and managing AQI user fee funds, among other functions. CBP oversees operations at over 300 U.S. ports of entry and manages the daily inspection and targeting of agricultural products, conveyances, international mail, and passengers to protect against the entry of exotic pests and diseases.

In this joint mission, the strategic plan will guide program activities and set the program’s focus for the next 5 years, driving planning and setting mission priorities.

Dr. Mark L Davidson Deputy Administrator Plant Protection and Quarantine

Pete Flores Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection