The changing face of regulatory plant pathology

• Published in: Phytopathology Vol. 98; no. 6; p. S195
• Main Author: Osterbauer, N K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-06-2008
• Subjects: Aphis
• ISSN: 0031-949X

In 1912, the U.S. adopted the Plant Quarantine Act. This was the U.S.'s first legal action taken to prevent the introduction of foreign plant pests. Other laws aimed at excluding plant pests quickly followed. Today, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for enforcing these laws. The laws have allowed APHIS to establish inspection stations at ports of entry, adopt quarantines, inspect agricultural goods, and restrict entry of infested goods. If a pest slips through this line of defense, APHIS works with state governments on domestic quarantines to limit spread and on survey and eradication plans for newly introduced pests. In recent years, the number of invasive pests introduced to the U.S. has increased, suggesting the traditional regulatory tools of pest exclusion are becoming less effective. This increase is associated with increases in world trade and the spread of invasive pests across international borders. In response, APHIS and state regulators are investigating new tools for providing protection from invasive pests. These tools place greater onus on industry to prove their products are pest-free before sale. In general, an industry adopts a systems approach that protects products from becoming infected prior to shipment. Although quarantines, border inspections, and surveys will continue to be important regulatory tools, the industry-based systems approach holds great promise for the future of pest exclusion.