|
 |
 |
How are imports of agricultural products controlled to protect the public?
Millions of pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, herbs, and other items enter the United States via commercial shipments from other countries every year. Although these items appear to be harmless, therecould be hidden threats in that baggage and in those truckloads, trainloads and containers of fresh items that could seriously threaten U.S. agriculture, our natural resources and our economy. The CBP Agriculture Specialist and the CBP Officer at U.S. ports of entry and international mail facilities target, detect, intercept, and thereby prevent the entry of these potential threats before they have a chance to do any harm. Each year, CBP Agriculture Specialists intercept tens of thousands of “actionable pests” – those identified through scientific risk assessment and study as being dangerous to the health and safety of U.S. agricultural resources. They check containers and trucks for smuggled agricultural products or packaging materials that might contain invasive species that could harm our agriculture and environment. They examine wooden pallets that could hide the larvae of wood-boring insects poised to attack native trees or nursery stock. They make sure that imported fruits and vegetables are pest-free. The CBP Agriculture Specialists work with specialized x-ray machines that detect organic materials. They utilize agricultural canines specifically trained to sniff out meat and plant materials in international airport passenger areas.
Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security
http://www.cbp.gov/
|
|
|
|
|
