USDAAPHIS

United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is a federal agency within the United States Department of Agriculture. APHIS protects the health of animals and plants, safeguards U.S. agricultural resources from pests and diseases, and promotes animal welfare and safe trade. It was created in 1972 through the reorganization of earlier animal, plant, and quarantine programs and now operates to prevent the introduction and spread of pests, respond to outbreaks, and support compliant commerce.

APHIS carries out its mission through four major program areas and related offices: Animal Health, Plant Health, Wildlife Services, and Animal Welfare, along with Biotechnology Regulatory Services. The Animal Health program conducts surveillance, diagnostic testing, and disease response under veterinary authorities, including import/export health certification and disease traceability, and it administers allied laboratories and capacity-building activities. The Plant Health program, through Plant Protection and Quarantine, protects crops, forests, and other plant resources by inspecting imports, conducting pest risk analyses, eradicating or containing outbreaks, and coordinating with states and international partners. Wildlife Services works to reduce damage caused by wildlife through a range of management tools, with an emphasis on nonlethal methods when possible. The Animal Welfare program enforces the Animal Welfare Act and related regulations, overseeing the treatment of certain animals in research, exhibition, transport, and commercial settings. Biotechnology Regulatory Services provides regulatory oversight of genetically engineered organisms that may affect agriculture, including field testing and product approvals.

APHIS also leads emergency response efforts during animal or plant disease incidents, coordinates border inspections and quarantines at ports of entry, and supports international cooperation to protect agriculture and natural resources. The agency maintains headquarters in Riverdale, Maryland, with field offices and laboratories across the United States in support of its mission.