APHIS begins sampling Oct. 1

On October 1, APHIS-PPQ will begin risk-based sampling on shipments of plants for planting at four plant inspection stations:

Linden, New Jersey; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Houston, Texas.

APHIS-PPQ will use sampling rates and methods that consider input from affected industries to minimize adverse effects on commerce. This new inspection protocol will provide data to improve our understanding of the highest risk plants entering the United States, which will allow us to focus our efforts to safeguard U.S. agriculture and the environment from the introduction of harmful plant pests and diseases. This information will also help in expediting the inspection process of low-risk plants entering the United States. APHIS-PPQ will adjust operational procedures as needed prior to implementation at other plant inspection stations. A future Stakeholder Registry notice will announce implementation at additional locations.

Background. Risk-based sampling is intended to be a statistically-supported and effective sampling method that accounts for the level of pest risk in a plant shipment. APHIS-PPQ has reviewed the sampling tool formulas and made adjustments that allow for effective sampling while reducing the impact on industry. The protocol is based on the hypergeometric probability distribution, which determines the probability of finding a pest within a certain number of independent samples from a shipment. The new protocol calculates the number of sample units (such as bags, boxes, or crates) an APHIS inspector should select from each shipment.

Actions. To better safeguard against the introduction and spread of invasive plant pests and diseases, APHIS-PPQ will implement the new risk-based sampling protocol to inspect shipments of imported propagative plant materials at plant inspection stations in New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Texas on October 1, 2013. The new protocol will maximize inspection effectiveness by incorporating a statistically robust approach to sampling imports brought through these locations. All plants for planting will be sampled at a rate that will provide sufficient data to evaluate the level of risk. The categorization of risk will be revised regularly in response to data from all inspections. This will allow APHIS-PPQ to more effectively focus resources towards plant species that pose the greatest risk.

Risk-based sampling will require more time to inspect some shipments. More samples may be inspected at the discretion of the APHIS inspector. To expedite the process, importers should ensure that an adequate number of staff is available to unload sample units for inspection. APHIS inspectors do not provide loading or unloading services. When quarantine action pests are detected on a commingled shipment, the entire shipment is subject to action required. APHIS is committed to providing the necessary number of inspectors to avoid any delays associated with the implementation of the new sampling protocol.