(a) Pursuant to sections 411-414 and 434 of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7711-7714 and 7754), the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that the unrestricted importation into the United States from all foreign countries and localities of any parts or products of plants of the genus Gossypium, including seed cotton; cottonseed; cotton lint, linters, and other forms of cotton fiber (not including yarn, thread, and cloth); cottonseed hulls, cake, meal, and other cottonseed products, except oil; cotton waste, including gin waste and thread waste; any other unmanufactured parts of cotton plants; second-hand burlap and other fabrics, shredded or otherwise, that have been used or are of the kinds ordinarily used, for containing cotton, grains (including grain products), field seeds, agricultural roots, rhizomes, tubers, or other underground crops, may result in the entry into the United States of the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.)), the golden nematode of potatoes (Heterodera rostochiensis Wr.), the flag smut disease (Urocystis tritici Koern.), and other injurious plant diseases and insect pests. Accordingly, to prevent the introduction into the United States of plant pests, the importation of those articles into the United States is prohibited unless they are imported in accordance with the regulations in this subpart or their importation has been authorized for experimental, therapeutic, or developmental purposes by a controlled import permit issued in accordance with § 319.6.

(b) The importation of cotton plants (including any plant parts) that are for planting or capable of being planted is restricted in Subpart H—Plants for Planting of this part.

The plants and products specified in § 319.8(a) may be imported into Guam without further permit, other than the authorization contained in this paragraph. Sections 319.8-2 and 319.8-3 shall not be applicable to such importations. In addition, such importations need not comply with the requirements of § 319.8-4 relating to notice of arrival inasmuch as there is available to the inspector the essential information normally supplied by the importer at the time of importation. Sections 319.8-5 through 319.8-27 shall not be applicable to importations into Guam. Inspection of such importations may be made under the general authority of § 330.105(a) of this chapter. If an importation is found infected, infested, or contaminated with any plant pest and is not subject to disposal under this part, disposition may be made in accordance with § 330.106 of this chapter.

For the purposes of the regulations in this subpart, the following words shall be construed, respectively, to mean:

Administrator. The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, or any employee of the United States Department of Agriculture delegated to act in his or her stead.

Approved. Approved by the Administrator.

Approved areas of Mexico. Any areas of Mexico, other than Northwest Mexico and the west coast of Mexico, which are designated by the Administrator as areas in which cotton and cotton products are produced and handled under conditions comparable to those under which like cotton and cotton products are produced and handled in the generally infested pink bollworm regulated area in the United States.

Approved fumigation facilities. Approved vacuum fumigation plant at a port where an inspector is available to supervise the fumigation.

Approved mill or plant. A mill or plant operating under a signed agreement with the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs required for approval of a mill or plant as specified in § 319.8-8(a)(2).

Authorized. Authorized by the Administrator.

Compressed. Compressed or pressed and baled or packaged to a density greater than approximately 20 pounds and less than approximately 28 pounds per cubic foot.

Compressed to high density. Compressed or pressed and baled or packaged to a density of approximately 28 or more pounds per cubic foot.

Contamination (contaminate). Containing or bearing whole cottonseed or seed cotton or other material which may carry the pink bollworm, the golden nematode of potatoes, the flag smut disease, or other injurious plant diseases or insect pests. (The verb contaminate shall be construed accordingly.)

Cotton. Parts and products of plants of the genus Gossypium, including seed cotton; cottonseed; cotton lint, linters and other forms of cotton fiber, not including yarn, thread and cloth; cottonseed hulls, cake, meal, and other cottonseed products, except oil; waste; and all other unmanufactured parts of cotton plants.

Cottonseed. Cottonseed from which the lint has been removed and that is intended for processing or consumption.

Covers. Second-hand burlap and other fabrics, shredded or otherwise, including any whole bag, any bag that has been slit open, and any part of a bag, which have been used, or are of the kinds ordinarily used, for containing cotton, grains (including grain products), field seeds, agricultural roots, rhizomes, tubers, or other underground crops. Burlap and other fabrics, when new or unused are excluded from this definition.

Gin trash. All of the material produced during the cleaning and ginning of seed cotton, bollies or snapped cotton except the lint, cottonseed, and gin waste.

Inspector. A properly identified employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or other person authorized to enforce the provisions of the Plant Protection Act.

Lint. All forms of raw ginned cotton, either baled or unbaled, except linters and waste.

Linters. All forms of cotton fiber separated from cottonseed after the lint has been removed, excluding so-called hull fiber.

North, northern. When used to designate ports of arrival, these terms mean the port of Norfolk, VA, and all Atlantic Coast ports north thereof, ports along the Canadian border, and Pacific Coast ports in the States of Washington and Oregon. When used in a geographic sense to designate areas or locations, these terms mean any State in which cotton is not grown commercially. However, when cotton is grown commercially in certain portions of a State, as is the case in Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri, these terms include those portions of such State as may be determined by the Administrator as remote from the main area of cotton production.

Northwest Mexico. All of the State of Baja California, Mexico, and that part of the State of Sonora, Mexico, lying between San Luis Mesa and the Colorado River.

Permit. A form of authorization to allow the importation of cotton or covers in accordance with the regulations in this subpart and in §§ 319.7 through 319.7-5.

Person. Any individual, firm, corporation, company, society, or association, or any organized group of any of the foregoing.

Pink bollworm regulated area; generally infested pink bollworm regulated area. The pink bollworm regulated area consists of those States or parts thereof designated as regulated area in Administrative Instructions issued under § 301.52-2 of this chapter. The generally infested pink bollworm regulated area is that part of the regulated area designated as generally infested in the said Administrative Instructions.

Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs. The Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Root crop. The underground crop portions of any plants.

Samples. Samples of lint, linters, waste, cottonseed cake, and cottonseed meal, of the amount and character usually required for trade purposes.

Seed cotton. Cotton as it comes from the field.

Treatment. Procedures administratively approved by the Administrator for destroying infestations or infections of insect pests or plant diseases, such as fumigation, application of chemicals or dry or moist heat, or processing, utilization, or storage.

Uncompressed. Baled or packaged to a density not exceeding approximately 20 pounds per cubic foot.

United States. Any of the States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands of the United States.

Utilization. Processing or manufacture, in lieu of fumigation at time of entry, at a mill or plant authorized by APHIS through a compliance agreement for foreign cotton processing or manufacturing.

Waste. All forms of cotton waste derived from the manufacture of cotton lint, in any form or under any trade designation, including gin waste and thread waste; and waste products derived from the milling of cottonseed. Gin trash is not within the definition of waste.

West Coast of Mexico. The State of Sinaloa, the State of Sonora (except that part of the Imperial Valley lying between San Luis Mesa and the Colorado River), and the Southern Territory of Baja California, in Mexico.

(a) Except as otherwise provided for in §§ 319.8-10 and 319.8-18, permits shall be obtained for importations into the United States of all cotton and covers. Permits will be issued only for cotton and covers authorized entry under §§ 319.8-6 through 319.8-20. Persons desiring to import cotton or covers under §§ 319.8-6 through 319.8-20 shall, in advance of departure of such material from a foreign port, submit to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs an application for a permit in accordance with §§ 319.7 through 319.7-5 . Applications to import cottonseed shall state the approximate quantity and the proposed United States port of entry. Applications to import lint, linters, or waste shall state whether such materials are compressed.

(b) Applications to import lint, linters, or waste at a port 1 other than one in the North, in California, or on the Mexican Border shall also specify whether the commodity is compressed to high density.

(c) Upon receipt of an application to import lint, linters, waste, or covers, without treatment, for utilization under agreement as defined in § 319.8-8(a)(2), an investigation will be made by an inspector to determine that the receiving mill or plant is satisfactorily located geographically, is equipped with all necessary safeguards, and is apparently in a position to fulfill all precautionary conditions to which it may agree. Upon determination by the inspector that these qualifications are fulfilled, the owner or operator of the mill or plant may sign an agreement specifying that the required precautionary conditions will be maintained. Such signed agreement will be a necessary requisite to the release at the port of entry of any imported lint, linters, waste, or covers for forwarding to and utilization at such mill or plant in lieu of vacuum fumigation or other treatment otherwise required by this subpart. Permits for the importation of such materials will be issued in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.

(d) Permits for importation of any cotton or covers are conditioned upon compliance with all of the conditions specified in the permit and any applicable regulations or administrative instructions of this part.

(e) Pending development of adequate treating facilities in Guam, any cotton or covers that are subject to treatment as a condition of entry therein must first be entered and treated in accordance with the requirements of this subpart at a U.S. port of arrival where such treating facilities are available.

(a) Permits for entry from the West Coast of Mexico, as authorized in § 319.8-12 of lint, linters, waste, cottonseed, and cottonseed hulls may be refused and existing permits cancelled by the Administrator if he or she has determined that the pink bollworm is present in the West Coast of Mexico or in Northwest Mexico, or that other conditions exist therein that would increase the hazard of pest introduction into the United States.

(b) Permits for entry from Northwest Mexico as authorized in § 319.8-13 of lint, linters, waste, cottonseed, cottonseed hulls, and covers that have been used for cotton, may be refused and existing permits cancelled by the Administrator if he or she has determined that the pink bollworm is present in Northwest Mexico or in the West Coast of Mexico, or that other conditions exist therein that would increase the hazard of pest introduction into the United States.

Immediately upon arrival at a port of entry of any shipment of cotton or covers, the importer shall submit to an inspector or, in the case of Guam, through the Customs officer of the Government of Guam, notice of such arrival using a form provided for that purpose (Form PPQ-368). Forms will be submitted using a U.S. Government electronic information exchange system or other authorized method.

Every bale or other container of cotton lint, linters, waste, or covers imported or offered for entry shall be plainly marked or tagged with a bale number or other mark to distinguish it from other bales or containers of similar material. Bales of lint, linters, and waste from approved areas of Mexico, the West Coast of Mexico, or Northwest Mexico shall be tagged or otherwise marked to show the gin or mill of origin unless they are immediately exported.

Entry of cottonseed cake and cottonseed meal will be authorized through any port at which the services of an inspector are available, subject to examination by an inspector for freedom from contamination. If found to be free of contamination, importations of such cottonseed cake and cottonseed meal will be released from further plant quarantine entry restrictions. If found to be contaminated such importations will be refused entry or subjected as a condition of entry to such safeguards as the inspector may prescribe, according to a method selected by the inspector from administratively authorized procedures known to be effective under the conditions under which the safeguards are applied.

Entry of lint, linters, and waste will be authorized without treatment but upon compliance with other applicable requirements of this subpart when the inspector can determine that such lint, linters, and waste have been so processed by bleaching, dyeing, or other means, as to have removed all cottonseed or to have destroyed all insect life.

(a) Compressed to high density. (1)(i) Entry of lint, linters, and waste, compressed to high density, will be authorized subject to vacuum fumigation by approved methods at any port where approved fumigation facilities are available.

(ii) Importations of such lint, linters, and waste, arriving at a northern port where there are no approved fumigation facilities may be entered for transportation in bond to another northern port where such facilities are available, for the required vacuum fumigation.

(iii) Such lint, linters, and waste compressed to high density arriving at a port in the State of California where there are no approved fumigation facilities may be entered for immediate transportation in bond via an all-water route if available, otherwise by overland transportation in van-type trucks or box cars after approved surface treatment, or under such other conditions as may be deemed necessary and are prescribed by the inspector to (a) any port where approved fumigation facilities are available, there to receive the required vacuum fumigation before release, or (b) to an approved mill or plant for utilization.

(2) Entry of lint, linters, and waste compressed to high density, will be authorized without vacuum fumigation at any northern port, subject to movement to an approved mill or plant, the owner or operator of which has executed an agreement with the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs to the effect that, in consideration of the waiving, of vacuum fumigation as a condition of entry and the substitution of approved utilization therefor:

(i) The lint, linters, and waste so entered will be processed or manufactured at the mill or plant and until so used will be retained thereat, unless written authority is granted by the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs to move the material to another mill or plant;

(ii) Sanitary measures satisfactory to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs will be taken with respect to the collection and disposal of any waste, residues, and covers, including the collection and disposal of refuse from railroad cars, trucks, or other carriers used in transporting the material to the mill or plant;

(iii) Inspectors of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs will have access to the mill or plant at any reasonable time to observe the methods of handling the material, the disposal of refuse, residues, waste, and covers, and otherwise to check compliance with the terms of the agreement;

(iv) Such reports of the receipt and utilization of the material, and disposal of waste therefrom as may be required by the inspector will be submitted to him promptly;

(v) Such other requirements as may be necessary in the opinion of the Administrator to assure retention of the material, including all wastes and residues, at the mill or plant and its processing, utilization or disposal in a manner that will eliminate all pest risk, will be complied with.

(3) Failure to comply with any of the conditions of an agreement specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section may be cause for immediate cancellation of the agreement by the inspector and refusal to release, without vacuum fumigation, lint, linters, and waste for transportation to the mill or plant.

(4) Agreements specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section may be executed only with owners or operators of mills or plants located in States in which cotton is not grown commercially and at locations in such other States as may be administratively designated by the Administrator after due consideration of possible pest risk involved and the proximity of growing cotton.

(b) Uncompressed or compressed. (1)(i) Entry of uncompressed or compressed lint, linters, and waste will be authorized, subject to vacuum fumigation by approved methods, through any northern port, through any port in the State of California, and through any port on the Mexican Border, where approved fumigation facilities are available.

(ii) Importations of such lint, linters, and waste arriving at a northern port where there are no approved fumigation facilities may be entered for immediate transportation in bond to another northern port where such facilities are available, for the required vacuum fumigation.

(iii) Compressed lint, linters, and waste arriving at a port in the State of California where there are no approved fumigation facilities may be entered for immediate transportation in bond by an all-water route if available, otherwise by overland transportation in van-type trucks or box cars after approved surface treatment, or under such other conditions as may be deemed necessary and are prescribed by the inspector, to any port in California or any northern port where approved fumigation facilities are available, there to receive the required vacuum fumigation before release, or to any northern port for movement to an approved mill or plant for utilization.

(iv) Uncompressed lint, linters, and waste arriving at a port in the State of California where there are no approved fumigation facilities may be entered for immediate transportation in bond by an all-water route to any port in California or any northern port where approved fumigation facilities are available, there to receive the required vacuum fumigation before release, or to a northern port for movement to an approved mill or plant for utilization.

(2) Entry without vacuum fumigation will be authorized for compressed lint, linters, and waste, and for uncompressed waste derived from cotton milled in countries that do not produce cotton, 2 arriving at a northern port, subject to movement to an approved mill or plant.

(a) Entry of hull fiber will be authorized under the same conditions as are applicable to waste under this subpart.

(b) Gin trash may be imported only under the provisions of § 319.8-20.

(a) Entry of covers (including bags, slit bags, and parts of bags) which have been used as containers for cotton grown or processed in countries other than the United States may be authorized either (1) through a Mexican border port named in the permit for vacuum fumigation by an approved method in that part of the United States within the generally infested pink bollworm regulated area; or (2) through a northern port or a port in the State of California subject to vacuum fumigation by an approved method or without vacuum fumigation when the covers are to be moved to an approved mill or plant for utilization. When such covers are forwarded from a northern port to a mill or plant in California for utilization, or from a California port to another California or northern port for vacuum fumigation thereat or for movement to a mill or plant for utilization such movement shall be made by an all-water route unless the bales are compressed to a density of 20 pounds or more per cubic foot in which case the bales may be moved overland in van-type trucks or box cars if all-water transportation is not available. Such overland movement may be made only after approved surface treatment or under such other conditions as may be deemed necessary and are prescribed by the inspector. When such covers arrive at a port other than a northern, California, or Mexican border port they will be required to be transported therefrom immediately in bond by an all-water route to a northern or California port where approved vacuum fumigation facilities are available for vacuum fumigation thereat by an approved method or for forwarding therefrom to an approved mill or plant for utilization.

(b) American cotton bagging, commonly known as coarse gunny, which has been used to cover only cotton grown or processed in the United States, may be authorized entry at any port under permit and upon compliance with §§ 319.8-4 and 319.8-5, without fumigation or other treatment. Marking patches of the finer burlaps or other fabrics when attached to bales of such bagging may be disregarded if, in the judgment of the inspector, they do not present a risk of carrying live pink bollworms, golden nematode cysts or flag smut spores.

(c) Bags, slit bags, parts of bags, and other covers which have been used as containers for root crops or are of a kind ordinarily used as containers for root crops may be authorized entry subject to immediate treatment in such manner and according to such method as the inspector may select from administratively authorized procedures known to be effective under the conditions under which the treatment is applied, and subject to any additional safeguard measures that may be prescribed by the inspector pursuant to § 319.8-24, or that he may prescribe in regard to the manner of discharge from the carrier and conveyance to the place of treatment: Provided, That such covers may be authorized entry from Canada without treatment as prescribed in this paragraph unless the covers are found to be contaminated.

(d) Bags, slit bags, parts of bags, and other covers that have been used as containers for wheat or wheat products that have not been so processed as to have destroyed all flag smut disease spores, or that have been used as containers for field seeds separated from wheat during the process of screening, and which arrive from a country named in § 319.59-2(a)(2) of this part, if intended for reuse in this country as grain containers may be authorized entry, subject to immediate treatment at the port of arrival. If such covers are not intended to be reused in this country as grain containers their entry may be authorized subject to movement for utilization to an approved mill or plant the owner or operator of which has executed an appropriate agreement with the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs similar to that described in § 319.8-8(a)(2). Covers coming within this paragraph only, may be entered without permit other than the authorization provided in this paragraph and without other restriction under this subpart upon presentation to an inspector of satisfactory evidence that they have been used only for grains exported from the United States and are being returned empty without use abroad and that while abroad they have been handled in a manner to prevent their contamination.

(e) When upon arrival at a port of entry any shipment of bags, slit bags, parts of bags, or other covers, is found to include one or more bales containing material the importation of which is regulated by paragraph (a), (c), or (d) of this section, the entire shipment, or any portion thereof, may be required by the inspector to be treated as specified in the applicable paragraph.

(f) If upon their arrival at a port of entry covers are classified by the inspector as coming within more than one paragraph of this section, they will be authorized entry only upon compliance with such requirements of the applicable paragraphs as the inspector may deem necessary to prevent the introduction of plant diseases and insect pests.

(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other paragraph of this section the entry from any country of bags, slit bags, parts of bags, and other covers will be authorized without treatment but upon compliance with other applicable sections of this subpart if the inspector finds that they have obviously not been used in a manner that would contaminate them or when in the inspector's opinion there is otherwise no plant pest risk associated with their entry.

(a) Entry of lint, linters, and waste (including gin and oil mill wastes) which were derived from cotton grown in, and which were produced and handled only in approved areas of Mexico 3 may be authorized through Mexican Border ports in Texas named in the permits

(1) For movement into the generally infested pink bollworm regulated area such products becoming subject immediately upon release by the inspector to the requirements, in § 301.52 of this chapter, applicable to like products originating in the pink bollworm regulated area, or

(2) For movement to an approved mill or plant for utilization, or

(3) For movement to New Orleans for immediate vacuum fumigation.

(b) Entry of cottonseed or cottonseed hulls in bulk, or in covers that are new or which have not been used previously to contain cotton or unmanufactured cotton products, may be authorized through Mexican Border ports in Texas named in the permits, for movement into the generally infested pink bollworm regulated area when certified by an inspector as having been produced in an approved area and handled subsequently in a manner satisfactory to the inspector. Upon arrival in the generally infested pink bollworm regulated area such cottonseed or cottonseed hulls will be released from further plant quarantine entry requirements and shall become subject immediately to the requirements in § 301.52 of this chapter.

Contingent upon continued freedom of the West Coast of Mexico and of Northwest Mexico from infestations of the pink bollworm, entry of the following products may be authorized under permit subject to inspection to determine freedom from hazardous plant pest conditions:

(a) Compressed lint and linters.

(b) Uncompressed lint and linters for movement into the generally infested pink bollworm regulated area, movement thereafter to be in accordance with § 301.52 of this chapter.

(c) Compressed or uncompressed cotton waste for movement under bond to Fabens, Texas, for vacuum fumigation after which it will be released from further plant quarantine entry requirements.

(d) Cottonseed when certified by an inspector as having been treated, stored, and transported in a manner satisfactory to the Administrator.

(e) Untreated, non-certified cottonseed contained in new bags for movement by special manifest to any destination in the generally infested pink bollworm regulated area, movement thereafter to be in accordance with § 301.52 of this chapter.

(f) Cottonseed hulls when certified by an inspector as having been treated, stored, and transported in a manner satisfactory to the Administrator.

(g) Any cotton products for movement through Mexican border ports in Texas directly into the generally infested pink bollworm regulated area, movement thereafter to be in accordance with § 301.52 of this chapter.

Contingent upon continued freedom of Northwest Mexico and of the West Coast of Mexico from infestations of the pink bollworm and other plant pest conditions that would increase risk of pest introduction into the United States with importations authorized under this section, entry of the following products may be authorized under permit subject to inspection upon arrival to determine freedom from hazardous plant pest conditions:

(a) Lint, linters, and waste.

(b) Cottonseed.

(c) Cottonseed hulls.

(d) Covers that have been used for cotton only.

Mexican cotton and covers not enterable under § 319.8-11, § 319.8-12, or § 319.8-13 may be entered in accordance with §§ 319.8-6 through 319.8-10 and §§ 319.8-16 through 319.8-20 insofar as said sections are applicable.

(a) Cotton and covers grown, produced, or handled in the United States and exported therefrom, and in the original bales or other containers in which such material was exported therefrom, may be imported into the United States at any port under permit, without vacuum fumigation or other treatment or restriction as to utilization, upon compliance with §§ 319.8-2, 319.8-4, and § 319.8-5, and upon the submission of evidence satisfactory to the inspector that such material was grown, produced, or handled in the United States and does not constitute a risk of introducing the pink bollworm into the United States.

(b) Cotton and covers of foreign origin imported into the United States in accordance with this subpart and exported therefrom, when in the original bales or other original containers, may be reimported into the United States under the conditions specified in paragraph (a) of this section.

(a) Importation of cotton and covers for exportation, or for transportation and exportation, in accordance with this subpart shall also be subject to §§ 352.1 through 352.8 of this chapter, as amended.

(b) Importation at northern ports of unfumigated lint, linters, waste, cottonseed cake, cottonseed meal and covers used only for cotton, for exportation or for transportation and exportation through another northern port, may be authorized by the inspector under permit if, in his judgment, such procedures can be authorized without risk of introducing the pink bollworm.

(c) Entry under permit of lint, linters, or waste compressed to high density will be authorized for purposes of storage in the north pending exportation, fumigation, or utilization in an approved mill or plant provided the owner or operator of such proposed storage place has executed an agreement with the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs similar to those required for mills or plants to utilize lint, linters, and waste as specified in § 319.8-8(a)(2), and provided further that

(1) Inspectors are available to supervise the storage,

(2) The bales of material to be stored are free from surface contamination,

(3) The material is kept segregated from other cotton and covers in a manner satisfactory to the inspector, and

(4) The waste is collected and disposed of in a manner satisfactory to the inspector.

(d) Except as provided in § 319.8-23(a)(4), compressed lint, linters, and waste, uncompressed waste derived from cotton milled in a non-cotton-producing country, 4 and covers, arriving at a port in the north for entry for exportation, vacuum fumigation, or utilization in accordance with the requirements in this subpart, may be allowed movement in Customs custody for storage at a point in the north pending such exportation, or movement to an approved mill or plant for vacuum fumigation or utilization, when there are inspectors available to supervise such storage, if the bales are free of surface contamination, if they are kept segregated from other cotton and covers in a manner satisfactory to the inspector, and if waste is collected and disposed of in a manner satisfactory to the inspector. Such lint, linters, waste, and covers shall remain under Customs custody until released by the inspector.

(e) Importation of lint, linters, and waste from Mexico for transportation and exportation will be authorized under permit if such material is compressed before, or immediately upon entering into the United States, or is compressed while en route to the port of export at a compress specifically authorized in the permit. The ports of export which may be named in the permit shall be limited to those that have been administratively approved for such exportation. Storage of such compressed cotton may be authorized, in approved bonded warehouses in Texas.

(f) Entry of uncompressed lint, linters, and waste from Mexico may be authorized at ports named in the permit for exportation at ports within the generally infested pink bollworm regulated area or for transportation and exportation via rail to Canada under such conditions and over such routes as may be specified in the permit.

(a) Samples of lint, linters, waste, cottonseed cake, and cottonseed meal may be entered without further permit other than the authorization contained in this section, but subject to inspection and such treatment as the inspector may deem necessary. Samples which represent either such products of United States origin or such products imported into the United States in accordance with the requirements of this subpart, and which were exported from the United States, may be entered into the United States without inspection when the inspector is satisfied as to the identity of the samples.

(b) Samples of cottonseed or seed cotton may be entered subject to the conditions and requirements provided in §§ 319.8-2, 319.8-4, and 319.8-19.

(c) Bales or other containers of cotton shall not be broken or opened for sampling and samples shall not be drawn until the inspector has so authorized and has prescribed the conditions and safeguards under which such samples shall be obtained.

Cotton and covers, the entry of which has been authorized subject to vacuum fumigation or other treatment because of the pink bollworm only, and which have not received such treatment but have been stored for a period of 18 months or more will be released from further plant quarantine entry restrictions.

When ports of entry or export are not specifically designated in this subpart but are left to the judgment of the inspector, the inspector shall designate only such ports as have been administratively approved for such entry or export.

(a)(1) Vacuum fumigation as required in this subpart must be conducted in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(2) After cotton and covers have been vacuum fumigated they shall be so marked under the supervision of an inspector. Such material may thereafter be distributed, forwarded, or shipped without further plant quarantine entry restriction.

(3) Cotton and covers held by an importer for vacuum fumigation must be stored under conditions satisfactory to the inspector.

(4) Prompt vacuum fumigation of cotton and covers (other than high density cotton free of surface contamination) will be required at non-northern ports. Similar prompt vacuum fumigation will be required at Norfolk, Virginia, during the period June 15 to October 15 of each year, except for covers which have been used to contain only lint, linters, or waste, and the bales of which are compressed to a density of 28 or more pounds per cubic foot and are free of surface contamination.

(b) An inspector may authorize the substitution of processing, utilization, or other form of treatment for vacuum fumigation when in his opinion such other treatment, selected by him from administratively authorized procedures, will be effective in eliminating infestation of the pink bollworm.

(a) Importers shall handle imported, unfumigated cotton and covers in a manner to avoid waste. If waste does occur, the importer or his or her agent shall collect and dispose of such waste in a manner satisfactory to the inspector.

(b) If, in the judgment of an inspector, it is necessary as a safeguard against risk of pest dispersal to clean railway cars, lighters, trucks, and other vehicles and vessels used for transporting such cotton or covers, or to clean piers, warehouses, fumigation plants, mills, or other premises used in connection with importation of such cotton or covers, the importer or his or her agent shall perform such cleaning, in a manner satisfactory to the inspector.

(c) All costs incident to such collection, disposal, and cleaning other than the services of the inspector during his or her regular tour of duty and at the usual place of duty, shall be borne by the importer or his or her agent.

The services of the inspector during regularly assigned hours of duty and at the usual places of duty shall be furnished without cost to the importer. The Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs will not assume responsibility for any costs or charges, other than those indicated in this section, in connection with the entry, inspection, treatment, conditioning, storage, forwarding, or any other operation of any character incidental to the physical entry of an importation of a restricted material.

Any material refused entry for noncompliance with the requirements of this subpart shall be promptly removed from the United States or abandoned by the importer for destruction, and pending such action shall be subject to the immediate application of such safeguards against escape of plant pests as the inspector may prescribe. If such material is not promptly safeguarded by the importer, removed from the United States, or abandoned for destruction to the satisfaction of the inspector it may be seized, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of in accordance with sections 414 and 421 of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7714 and 7731). Neither the Department of Agriculture nor the inspector will be responsible for any costs accruing for demurrage, shipping charges, cartage, labor, chemicals, or other expenses incidental to the safeguarding or disposal of material refused entry by the inspector, nor will the Department of Agriculture or the inspector assume responsibility for the value of material destroyed.