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.

APHIS. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

Bark chips. Bark fragments broken or shredded from log or branch surfaces.

Certificate. A certificate of inspection relating to a regulated article, which is issued by an official authorized by the national government of the country in which the regulated article was produced or grown, which is addressed to the plant protection service of the United States (Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs), which contains a description of the regulated article, which certifies that the regulated article has been inspected, is believed to be free of plant pests, and is believed to be eligible for importation pursuant to the laws and regulations of the United States, and which may contain any specific additional declarations required under this subpart.

Compliance agreement. A written agreement between APHIS and a person engaged in processing, handling, or moving regulated articles, in which the person agrees to comply with requirements contained in the agreement.

Controlled import permit. A written or electronically transmitted authorization issued by APHIS for the importation into the United States of otherwise prohibited or restricted plant material for experimental, therapeutic, or developmental purposes, under controlled conditions as prescribed by the Administrator in accordance with § 319.6.

Fines. Small particles or fragments of wood, slightly larger than sawdust, that result from chipping, sawing, or processing wood.

Free from rot. No more than two percent by weight of the regulated articles in a lot show visual evidence of fructification of fungi or growth of other microorganisms that cause decay and the breakdown of cell walls in the regulated articles.

General permit. A written authorization contained in § 319.40-3 for any person to import the articles named by the general permit, in accordance with the requirements specified by the general permit, without being issued a specific permit.

Humus, compost, and litter. Partially or wholly decayed plant matter.

Import (imported, importation). To bring or move into the territorial limits of the United States.

Importer document. A written declaration signed by the importer of regulated articles, which must accompany the regulated articles at the time of importation, in which the importer accurately declares information about the regulated articles required to be disclosed by § 319.40-2(b).

Inspector. Any individual authorized by the Administrator to enforce this subpart.

Log. The bole of a tree; trimmed timber that has not been sawn further than to form cants.

Loose wood packing material. Excelsior (wood wool), sawdust, and wood shavings, produced as a result of sawing or shaving wood into small, slender, and curved pieces.

Lot. All the regulated articles on a single means of conveyance that are derived from the same species of tree and were subjected to the same treatments prior to importation, and that are consigned to the same person.

Lumber. Logs that have been sawn into boards, planks, or structural members such as beams.

Permit. A specific permit to import a regulated article issued in accordance with § 319.40-4, or a general permit promulgated in § 319.40-3.

Plant pest. Any living stage of any insects, mites, nematodes, slugs, snails, protozoa, or other invertebrate animals, bacteria, fungi, other parasitic plants or reproductive parts of parasitic plants, noxious weeds, viruses, or any organism similar to or allied with any of the foregoing, or any infectious substances, which can injure or cause disease or damage in any plants, parts of plants, or any products of plants.

Port of first arrival. The area (such as a seaport, airport, or land border station) where a person or a means of conveyance first arrives in the United States, and where inspection of regulated articles is carried out by inspectors.

Primary processing. Any of the following processes: cleaning (removal of soil, limbs, and foliage), debarking, rough sawing (bucking or squaring), rough shaping, spraying with fungicide or insecticide sprays, and fumigation.

Regulated article. The following articles, if they are unprocessed, have received only primary processing, or contain parts that are either unprocessed or have received only primary processing and are not feasibly separable from the other parts of the article: Logs; lumber; any whole tree; any cut tree or any portion of a tree, not solely consisting of leaves, flowers, fruits, buds, or seeds; bark; cork; laths; hog fuel; sawdust; painted raw wood products; excelsior (wood wool); wood chips; wood mulch; wood shavings; pickets; stakes; shingles; solid wood packing materials; humus; compost; litter; and wooden handicrafts.

Regulated wood packaging material. Wood packaging material other than manufactured wood materials, loose wood packing materials, and wood pieces less than 6 mm thick in any dimension, that are used or for use with cargo to prevent damage, including, but not limited to, dunnage, crating, pallets, packing blocks, drums, cases, and skids.

Sealed container; sealable container. A completely enclosed container designed for the storage or transportation of cargo, and constructed of metal or fiberglass, or other rigid material, providing an enclosure which prevents the entrance or exit of plant pests and is accessed through doors that can be closed and secured with a lock or seal. Sealed (sealable) containers are distinct and separable from the means of conveyance carrying them.

Specific permit. A written document issued by APHIS to the applicant in accordance with § 319.40-4 that authorizes importation of articles in accordance with this subpart and specifies or refers to the regulations applicable to the particular importation.

Statement of origin and movement. A signed, accurate statement certifying the area or areas where the regulated articles originated and, if applicable, the area or areas they were moved through prior to importation. The statement may be printed directly on the documentation accompanying the shipment of regulated articles, or it may be provided on a separate document. The statement does not require the signature of a public officer of a national plant protection organization; exporters may sign the document.

Tropical hardwoods. Hardwood timber species which grow only in tropical climates.

United States. All of the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and all other territories and possessions of the United States.

Wood chips. Wood fragments broken or shredded from any wood.

Wood mulch. Bark chips, wood chips, wood shavings, or sawdust intended for use as a protective or decorative ground cover.

Wood packaging material. Wood or wood products (excluding paper products) used in supporting, protecting or carrying a commodity (includes dunnage).

Wooden handicraft. A commodity class of articles derived or made from natural components of wood, twigs, and vines, and including bamboo poles and garden stakes. Handicrafts include the following products where wood is present: Carvings, baskets, boxes, bird houses, garden and lawn/patio furniture (rustic), potpourri, artificial trees (typically artificial ficus trees), trellis towers, garden fencing and edging, and other items composed of wood.

(a) Permit required. Except for regulated articles exempted from this requirement by paragraph (c) of this section or § 319.40-3, no regulated article may be imported unless a specific permit has been issued for importation of the regulated article in accordance with § 319.40-4, and unless the regulated article meets all other applicable requirements of this subpart and any requirements specified by APHIS in the specific permit.

(b) Importer document; documentation of type, quantity, and origin of regulated articles. Except for regulated articles exempted from this requirement by paragraph (c) of this section or § 319.40-3, no regulated article may be imported unless it is accompanied by an importer document stating the following information. A certificate that contains this information may be used in lieu of an importer document at the option of the importer:

(1) The genus and species of the tree from which the regulated article was derived;

(2) The country, and locality if known, where the tree from which the regulated article was derived was harvested;

(3) The quantity of the regulated article to be imported;

(4) The use for which the regulated article is imported; and

(5) Any treatments or handling of the regulated article required by this subpart that were performed prior to arrival at the port of first arrival.

(c) Regulation of articles imported for propagation or human consumption. The requirements of this subpart do not apply to regulated articles that are allowed importation in accordance with Subpart H—Plants for Planting of this part or to regulated articles imported for human consumption that are allowed importation in accordance with Subpart L—Fruits and Vegetables of this part.

(d) Regulated articles imported for experimental, therapeutic, or developmental purposes. Any regulated article may be imported without further restriction under this subpart if:

(1) Imported for experimental, therapeutic, or developmental purposes under the conditions specified in a controlled import permit issued in accordance with § 319.6;

(2) Imported pursuant to a controlled import permit issued by APHIS for the regulated article prior to its importation and kept on file at the port of first arrival; and

(3) Imported under conditions specified on the controlled import permit and found by the Administrator to be adequate to prevent the introduction into the United States of plant pests.

(e) Designation of additional regulated articles. An inspector may designate any article as a regulated article by giving written notice of the designation to the owner or person in possession or control of the article. APHIS will implement rulemaking to add articles designated as regulated articles to the definition of regulated article in § 319.40-1 if importation of the article appears to present a recurring significant risk of introducing plant pests. Inspectors may designate an article as a regulated article after determining that:

(1) The article was imported in the same container or hold as a regulated article;

(2) Other articles of the same type imported from the same country have been found to carry plant pests; or

(3) The article appears to be contaminated with regulated articles or soil.

(f) In addition to meeting the requirements of this subpart, bark and bark products and logs and pulpwood with bark attached, as well as cut trees (e.g., Christmas trees), imported from Canada are subject to the inspection and certification requirements for gypsy moth in § 319.77-4 of this part.

(a) Canada and Mexico. (1) The following articles may be imported into the United States under general permit:

(i) From Canada: Regulated articles, other than the following:

(A) Regulated articles of the subfamilies Aurantioideae, Rutoideae, and Toddalioideae of the botanical family Rutaceae; and

(B) Regulated articles of Fraxinus spp. (ash), which are subject to the requirements in § 319.40-5(n).

(ii) From States in Mexico adjacent to the United States: Commercial and noncommercial shipments of mesquite wood for cooking; commercial and noncommercial shipments of unmanufactured wood for firewood; and small, noncommercial packages of unmanufactured wood for personal cooking or personal medicinal purposes.

(2) Commercial shipments allowed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section are subject to the inspection and other requirements in § 319.40-9 and must be accompanied by an importer document stating that they are derived from trees harvested in Canada or States in Mexico adjacent to the United States border.

(3) Noncommercial shipments allowed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section are subject to inspection and other requirements of § 319.40-9 and must be accompanied by an importer document or oral declaration stating that they are derived from trees harvested in Canada or States in Mexico adjacent to the United States border.

(b) Regulated wood packaging material. Regulated wood packaging material, whether in actual use as packing for regulated or nonregulated articles or imported as cargo, may be imported into the United States under a general permit in accordance with the following conditions:

(1) The wood packaging material must have been treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(2) Marking. The wood packaging material must be marked in a visible location on each article, preferably on at least two opposite sides of the article, with a legible and permanent mark that indicates that the article meets the requirements of this paragraph. The mark must be approved by the International Plant Protection Convention in its International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures to certify that wood packaging material has been subjected to an approved measure, and must include a unique graphic symbol, the ISO two-letter country code for the country that produced the wood packaging material, a unique number assigned by the national plant protection agency of that country to the producer of the wood packaging material, and an abbreviation disclosing the type of treatment (e.g., HT for heat treatment or MB for methyl bromide fumigation). The currently approved format for the mark is as follows, where XX would be replaced by the country code, 000 by the producer number, and YY by the treatment type (HT or MB):

(3) Immediate reexport of regulated wood packaging material without required mark. An inspector at the port of first arrival may order the immediate reexport of regulated wood packaging material that is imported without the mark required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section, in addition to or in lieu of any port of first arrival procedures required by § 319.40-9 of this part.

(4) Exception for Department of Defense. Regulated wood packaging material used by the Department of Defense (DOD) of the U.S. Government to package nonregulated articles, including commercial shipments pursuant to a DOD contract, may be imported into the United States without the mark required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section.

(c) Loose wood packing materials. APHIS hereby issues a general permit to import regulated articles authorized by this paragraph. Loose wood packing materials (whether in use as packing or imported as cargo) that are dry may be imported subject to the inspection and other requirements in § 319.40-9 and without further restriction under this subpart.

(d) Bamboo timber. APHIS hereby issues a general permit to import regulated articles authorized by this paragraph. Bamboo timber which is free of leaves and seeds and has been sawn or split lengthwise and dried may be imported subject to the inspection and other requirements in § 319.40-9 and without further restriction under this subpart.

(e) Regulated articles the permit process has determined to present no plant pest risk. Regulated articles for which a specific permit has been issued in accordance with § 319.40-4(b)(2)(i) may be imported without other restriction under this subpart, except that they are subject to the inspection and other requirements in § 319.40-9.

(a) Application procedure. An application for a permit must be obtained and submitted in accordance with §§ 319.7 through 319.7-5.

(b) Review of application and issuance of permit. After receipt and review of the application, APHIS shall determine whether it appears that the regulated article at the time of importation will meet either the specific importation requirements in § 319.40-5 or the universal importation requirements in § 319.40-6.

(1) If it appears that the regulated article proposed for importation will meet the requirements of either § 319.40-5 or § 319.40-6, a permit stating the applicable conditions for importation under this subpart shall be issued for the importation of the regulated article identified in the application.

(2) If it appears that the regulated article proposed for importation will not meet the requirements of either § 319.40-5 or § 319.40-6 because these sections do not address the particular regulated article identified in the application, APHIS shall review the application by applying the plant pest risk assessment standards specified in § 319.40-11.

(i) If this review reveals that importation of the regulated article under a permit and subject to the inspection and other requirements in § 319.40-9, but without any further conditions, will not result in the introduction of plant pests into the United States, a permit for importation of the regulated article shall be issued. The permit may only be issued in unique and unforeseen circumstances when the importation of the regulated article is not expected to recur.

(ii) If this review reveals that the regulated article may be imported under conditions that would reduce the plant pest risk to an insignificant level, APHIS may implement rulemaking to add the additional conditions to this subpart, and after the regulations are effective, may issue a permit for importation of the regulated article.

(a) Bamboo timber. Bamboo timber consisting of whole culms or canes may be imported into Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands subject to inspection and other requirements of § 319.40-9. Bamboo timber consisting of whole culms or canes that are completely dry as evidenced by lack of moisture in node tissue may be imported into any part of the United States subject to inspection and other requirements of § 319.40-9.

(b) Monterey pine logs and lumber from Chile and New Zealand; Douglas-fir logs and lumber from New Zealand—(1) Logs—(i) Requirements prior to importation. Monterey or Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) logs from Chile or New Zealand and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) logs from New Zealand that are accompanied by a certificate stating that the logs meet the requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(i) (A) through (D) of this section, and that are consigned to a facility in the United States that operates in accordance with § 319.40-8, may be imported in accordance with paragraphs (b)(1)(i)(A) through (b)(1)(iii) of this section.

(A) The logs must be from live healthy trees which are apparently free of plant pests, plant pest damage, and decay organisms.

(B) The logs must be debarked in accordance with § 319.40-7(b) prior to fumigation.

(C) The logs and any regulated wood packaging material to be used with the logs during shipment to the United States must be fumigated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter within 45 days following the date the trees are felled and prior to arrival of the logs in the United States, in the holds or in sealable containers. Fumigation must be conducted in the same sealable container or hold in which the logs and regulated wood packaging material are exported to the United States.

(D) During shipment to the United States, no other regulated article is permitted on the means of conveyance with the logs, unless the logs and the other regulated articles are in separate holds or separate sealed containers, or, if the logs and other regulated articles are mixed in a hold or sealed container, the other regulated articles either have been heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, or have been fumigated in the hold or sealable container in accordance with paragraph (b)(1)(i)(C) of this section.

(ii) Requirements upon arrival in the United States. The following requirements apply upon arrival of the logs in the United States.

(A) The logs must be kept segregated from other regulated articles from the time of discharge from the means of conveyance until the logs are completely processed at a facility in the United States that operates under a compliance agreement in accordance with § 319.40-8.

(B) The logs must be moved from the port of first arrival to the facility that operates under a compliance agreement in accordance with § 319.40-8 by as direct a route as reasonably possible.

(iii) Requirements at the processing facility. The logs must be consigned to a facility operating under a compliance agreement in accordance with § 319.40-8 that includes the following requirements:

(A) Logs or any products generated from logs, including lumber, must be heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, or heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(B) The logs, including sawdust, wood chips, or other products generated from the logs in the United States, must be processed in accordance with paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section within 60 days from the time the logs are released from the port of first arrival.

(C) Sawdust, wood chips, and waste generated by sawing or processing the logs must be disposed of by burning, heat treatment in accordance with part 305 of this chapter , heat treatment with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter , or other processing that will destroy any plant pests associated with the sawdust, wood chips, and waste. Composting and use of the sawdust, wood chips, and waste as mulch are prohibited unless composting and use as mulch are preceded by fumigation in accordance with part 305 of this chapter , heat treatment in accordance with part 305 of this chapter , or heat treatment with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter . Wood chips, sawdust, and waste may be moved in enclosed trucks for processing at another facility operating under a compliance agreement in accordance with § 319.40-8.

(2) Raw lumber. Raw lumber, including regulated wood packaging material imported as cargo, from Chile or New Zealand derived from Monterey or Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) logs and raw lumber from New Zealand derived from Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) logs may be imported in accordance with paragraphs (b)(2) (i) and (ii) of this section.

(i) During shipment to the United States, no other regulated article (other than regulated wood packaging material) is permitted on the means of conveyance with the raw lumber, unless the raw lumber and the other regulated articles are in separate holds or separate sealed containers; Except for mixed shipments of logs and raw lumber fumigated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter and moved in accordance with paragraph (b)(1)(i)(D) of this section. Raw lumber on the vessel's deck must be in a sealed container.

(ii) The raw lumber must be consigned to a facility operating under a compliance agreement in accordance with § 319.40-8 that requires the raw lumber to be heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter or heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter before any cutting, planing, or sawing of the raw lumber, and within 30 days from the time the lumber is released from the port of first arrival.

(c) Tropical hardwoods—(1) Debarked. Tropical hardwood logs and lumber that have been debarked in accordance with § 319.40-7(b) may be imported subject to the inspection and other requirements of § 319.40-9.

(2) Not debarked. Tropical hardwood logs that have not been debarked may be imported if fumigated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter prior to arrival in the United States.

(3) Not debarked; small lots. Tropical hardwood logs that have not been debarked may be imported into the United States, other than into Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands of the United States, if imported in a lot of 15 or fewer logs and subject to the inspection and other requirements of § 319.40-9.

(d) Temperate hardwoods. Temperate hardwood logs and lumber (with or without bark) from all places except places in Asia that are east of 60° East Longitude and north of the Tropic of Cancer may be imported if fumigated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter prior to arrival in the United States and subject to the inspection and other requirements of § 319.40-9.

(e) Regulated articles associated with exclusively tropical climate pests. Regulated articles that have been identified by a plant pest risk assessment as associated solely with plant pests that can successfully become established only in tropical or subtropical climates may be imported if:

(1) The regulated article is imported only to a destination in the continental United States; and,

(2) the regulated article is not imported into any tropical or subtropical areas of the United States specified in the permit.

(f) Cross-ties (railroad ties) from all places, except places in Asia that are east of 60° East Longitude and north of the Tropic of Cancer, may be imported if completely free of bark and accompanied by an importer document stating that the cross-ties will be pressure treated with a preservative within 30 days following the date of importation at a U.S. facility under compliance agreement. Cross-ties (railroad ties) may also be imported if heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(g) through (k) [Reserved]

(l) Cross-ties (railroad ties) and pine and fir lumber from Mexican States adjacent to the United States/Mexico border. 1 Cross-ties (railroad ties) 8 inches or less at maximum thickness and lumber derived from pine and fir may be imported from Mexican States adjacent to the United States/Mexico border into the United States if they:

(1) Originate from Mexican States adjacent to the United States/Mexico border;

(2) Are 100 percent free of bark; and

(3) Are fumigated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter prior to arrival in the United States.

(m) [Reserved]

(n) Regulated articles of the genus Fraxinus from Canada. Except for articles prohibited under paragraph (n)(4) of this section, regulated articles of the genus Fraxinus (ash) from Canada may be imported in accordance with this paragraph (n) and subject to the certification requirements in § 319.40-2(a) and the inspection and other requirements in § 319.40-9. Articles being moved from counties or municipal regional counties in Canada not regulated for the emerald ash borer (EAB) may not transit an EAB-regulated area in Canada en route to the United States unless they are moving directly through the EAB-regulated area without stopping (except for refueling or for traffic conditions, such as traffic lights or stop signs). If these articles are being moved through the regulated area between May 1 and August 31 or when the ambient air temperature is 40 °F or higher, they must be in an enclosed vehicle or completely covered to prevent access by the emerald ash borer.

(1) Firewood of all hardwood (non-coniferous) species, and ash logs and wood, including cants and stumps, that originate in a county or municipal regional county regulated for the emerald ash borer within a Province or Territory regulated by the Canadian Government for the emerald ash borer require a permit issued under § 319.40-2(a) and must be accompanied by a certificate bearing an additional declaration that the articles in the shipment were:

(i) Debarked, and vascular cambium removed to a depth of 1.27 cm ( 1/2 inch) during the debarking process; or

(ii) Heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter. The phytosanitary certificate accompanying such articles must describe the treatment method employed.

(2) Firewood of all hardwood (non-coniferous) species, and ash logs and wood, including cants and stumps, that originate in a county or municipal regional county not regulated for the emerald ash borer within a Province or Territory regulated for the emerald ash borer require a permit issued under § 319.40-2(a) and must be accompanied by a certificate with an additional declaration stating that the articles in the shipment were produced/harvested in a county or municipal regional county where the emerald ash borer does not occur, based on official surveys.

(3) Firewood of all hardwood (non-coniferous) species, and ash logs and wood, including cants and stumps, that originate in a Province or Territory that is not regulated for the emerald ash borer must be accompanied by an importer document that certifies that the article originated in a county or municipal regional county free of the emerald ash borer.

(4) The importation of ash wood chips or bark chips larger than 1 inch diameter in any two dimensions that originate in a county or municipal regional county regulated for the emerald ash borer within a Province or Territory regulated for the emerald ash borer is prohibited.

(5) Ash wood chips or bark 1 inch or less in diameter that originate in an area regulated for the emerald ash borer within a Province or Territory regulated for the emerald ash borer must be accompanied by a permit issued under § 319.40-2(a) and a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the wood or bark chips in the shipment were ground to 1 inch (2.54 cm) or less in diameter in any two dimensions.

(6) Ash wood chips or bark chips that originate in a county or municipal regional county not regulated for the emerald ash borer within a Province or Territory regulated for the emerald ash borer must be accompanied by a permit issued under § 319.40-2(a), and a valid certificate with an additional declaration stating that the articles in the shipment were produced/harvested in a county or municipal regional county where the emerald ash borer does not occur, based on official surveys.

(7) Ash wood chips or bark chips that originate in a Province or Territory that is not regulated for the emerald ash borer must be accompanied by an importer document that certifies that the article originates in a Province or Territory free of the emerald ash borer.

(o) Wooden handicrafts from China. Wooden handicrafts more than 1 centimeter in diameter may be imported into the United States from China only in accordance with this paragraph and all other applicable provisions of this title. Wooden handicrafts less than 1 centimeter in diameter are exempt from the requirements of this paragraph, but are still subject to all other applicable provisions of this chapter.

(1) Treatment. Wooden handicrafts must be treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(2) Identification tag. All packages in which wooden handicrafts are shipped must be labeled with a merchandise tag containing the identity of the product manufacturer. The identification tag must be applied to each shipping package in China prior to exportation and remain attached to the shipping package until it reaches the location at which the wooden handicraft will be sold in the United States.

(a) Logs. Logs may be imported if prior to importation the logs have been debarked in accordance with § 319.40-7(b) and heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter. During the entire interval between treatment and export, the logs must be stored and handled in a manner which excludes any access to the logs by plant pests.

(b) Lumber—(1) Heat treated or heat treated with moisture reduction. Lumber that prior to importation has been heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, or heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, may be imported in accordance with paragraphs (b)(1) (i) and (ii) of this section.

(i) During shipment to the United States, no other regulated article (other than solid wood packing materials) is permitted on the means of conveyance with the lumber, unless the lumber and the other regulated articles are in separate holds or separate sealed containers, or, if the lumber and other regulated articles are mixed in a hold or sealed container, all the regulated articles have been heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter , or heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter. Lumber on the vessel's deck must be in a sealed container, unless it has been heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter

(ii) If lumber has been heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter , that fact must be stated on the importer document, or by a permanent marking on each piece of lumber in the form of the letters “HT” or the words “Heat Treated.” If lumber has been heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, that fact must be stated on the importer document, or by a permanent marking, on each piece of lumber or on the cover of bundles of lumber, in the form of the letters “KD” or the words “Kiln Dried.”

(2) Raw lumber. Raw lumber, including solid wood packing materials imported as cargo, from all places except places in Asia that are east of 60° East Longitude and north of the Tropic of Cancer may be imported in accordance with paragraphs (b)(2) (i) and (ii) of this section.

(i) During shipment to the United States, no other regulated article (other than solid wood packing materials) is permitted on the means of conveyance with the raw lumber, unless the raw lumber and the other regulated articles are in separate holds or separate sealed containers. Raw lumber on the vessel's deck must be in a sealed container.

(ii) The raw lumber must be consigned to a facility operating under a compliance agreement in accordance with § 319.40-8 that requires the raw lumber to be heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter or heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter , within 30 days from the time the lumber is released from the port of first arrival. Heat treatment must be completed before any cutting, planing, or sawing of the raw lumber.

(c) Wood chips and bark chips—(1) From Chile (pine) and South America (eucalyptus). Wood chips from Chile that are derived from Monterey or Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) logs and wood chips from South America that are derived from temperate species of Eucalyptus may be imported in accordance with paragraph (c)(2) of this section or in accordance with the following requirements:

(i) The wood chips must be accompanied by a certificate stating that the wood chips meet the requirements in paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) through (c)(1)(i)(C) of this section.

(A) The wood chips were treated with a surface pesticide treatment in accordance with part 305 of this chapter within 24 hours after the log was chipped and were retreated with a surface pesticide treatment in accordance with part 305 of this chapter if more than 30 days elapsed between the date of the first treatment and the date of export to the United States.

(B) The wood chips were derived from logs from live, healthy, plantation-grown trees that were apparently free of plant pests, plant pest damage, and decay organisms, and the logs used to make the wood chips were debarked in accordance with § 319.40-7(b) before being chipped.

(C) No more than 45 days elapsed from the time the trees used to make the wood chips were felled to the time the wood chips were exported.

(ii) During shipment to the United States, no other regulated articles (other than solid wood packing materials) are permitted in the holds or sealed containers carrying the wood chips. Wood chips on the vessel's deck must be in a sealed container.

(iii) The wood chips must be consigned to a facility in the United States that operates under a compliance agreement in accordance with § 319.40-8. The following requirements apply upon arrival of the wood chips in the United States:

(A) Upon arrival in the United States, the wood chips must be unloaded by a conveyor that is covered to prevent the chips from being blown by the wind and from accidental spillage. The facility receiving the wood chips must have a procedure in place to retrieve any chips that fall during unloading.

(B) If the wood chips must be transported after arrival, the chips must be covered or safeguarded in a manner that prevents the chips from spilling or falling off the means of conveyance or from being blown off the means of conveyance by wind.

(C) The wood chips must be stored at the facility on a paved surface and must be kept segregated from other regulated articles from the time of discharge from the means of conveyance until the chips are processed. The storage area must not be adjacent to wooded areas.

(D) The wood chips must be processed within 45 days of arrival at the facility. Any fines or unusable wood chips must be disposed of by burning within 45 days of arrival at the facility.

(2) From locations other than certain places in Asia. Wood chips and bark chips from any place except places in Asia that are east of 60° east longitude and north of the Tropic of Cancer may be imported in accordance with this paragraph.

(i) The wood chips or bark chips must be accompanied by an importer document stating that the wood chips or bark chips were either:

(A) Derived from live, healthy, tropical species of plantation-grown trees grown in tropical areas; or

(B) Fumigated with methyl bromide in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter , or heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(ii) During shipment to the United States, no other regulated articles (other than solid wood packing materials) are permitted in the holds or sealed containers carrying the wood chips or bark chips. Wood chips or bark chips on the vessel's deck must be in a sealed container; Except that: If the wood chips or bark chips are derived from live, healthy, plantation-grown trees in tropical areas, they may be shipped on deck if no other regulated articles are present on the vessel and the wood chips or bark chips are completely covered by a tarpaulin during the entire journey directly to the United States.

(iii) The wood chips or bark chips must be free from rot at the time of importation, unless accompanied by an importer document stating that the entire lot was fumigated with methyl bromide in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, or heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(iv) Wood chips or bark chips imported in accordance with this paragraph must be consigned to a facility operating under a compliance agreement in accordance with § 319.40-8. The wood chips or bark chips must be burned, heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, or otherwise processed in a manner that will destroy any plant pests associated with the wood chips or bark chips within 30 days of arrival at the facility. If the wood chips or bark chips are to be used for mulching or composting, they must first be fumigated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter , heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, or heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(d) Wood mulch, humus, compost, and litter. Wood mulch, humus, compost, and litter may be imported if accompanied by an importer document stating that the wood mulch, humus, compost, or litter was fumigated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, heat treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, or heat treated with moisture reduction in accordance with § 319.40-7(d).

(e) Cork and bark. Cork and cork bark, cinnamon bark, and other bark to be used for food, manufacture of medicine, or chemical extraction may be imported if free from rot at the time of importation and subject to the inspection and other requirements of § 319.40-9.

(a) Certification of treatments or safeguards. If APHIS determines that a document required for the importation of regulated articles is inaccurate, the regulated articles which are the subject of the certificate or other document shall be refused entry into the United States. In addition, APHIS may determine not to accept any further certificates for the importation of regulated articles in accordance with this subpart from a country in which an inaccurate certificate is issued, and APHIS may determine not to allow the importation of any or all regulated articles from any such country, until corrective action acceptable to APHIS establishes that certificates issued in that country will be accurate.

(b) Debarking. Except for raw lumber, no more than 2 percent of the surface of all regulated articles in a lot may retain bark, with no single regulated article retaining bark on more than 5 percent of its surface. For raw lumber, debarking must remove 100 percent of the bark.

(c) Treatments. Treatment of regulated articles under this subpart must be conducted in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(d) Preservatives. All preservative treatments that use a preservative product that is registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency are authorized for treatment of regulated articles imported in accordance with this subpart. Preservative treatments must be performed in accordance with label directions approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

(a) Any person who operates a facility in which imported regulated articles are processed may enter into a compliance agreement to facilitate the importation of regulated articles under this subpart. The compliance agreement shall specify the requirements necessary to prevent spread of plant pests from the facility, requirements to ensure the processing method effectively destroys plant pests, and the requirements for the application of chemical materials in accordance with part 305 of this chapter. The compliance agreement shall also state that inspectors must be allowed access to the facility to monitor compliance with the requirements of the compliance agreement and of this subpart. Compliance agreement forms may be obtained from the Administrator or an inspector.

(b) Any compliance agreement may be canceled by the inspector who is supervising its enforcement, orally or in writing, whenever the inspector finds that the person who entered into the compliance agreement has failed to comply with the conditions of the compliance agreement. If the cancellation is oral, the decision to cancel the compliance agreement and the reasons for cancellation of the compliance agreement shall be confirmed in writing, as promptly as circumstances permit. Any person whose compliance agreement has been canceled may appeal the decision in writing to the Administrator within 10 days after receiving written notification of the cancellation. The appeal shall state all of the facts and reasons upon which the person relies to show that the compliance agreement was wrongfully canceled. The Administrator shall grant or deny the appeal, in writing, stating the reasons for granting or denying the appeal, as promptly as circumstances permit. If there is a conflict as to any material fact and the person whose compliance agreement has been canceled requests a hearing, a hearing shall be held to resolve the conflict. Rules of practice concerning the hearing will be adopted by the Administrator.

(a) Procedures for all regulated articles. (1) All imported regulated articles shall be inspected at the port of first arrival. If the inspector finds signs of plant pests on or in the regulated article, or finds that the regulated article may have been associated with other articles infested with plant pests, the regulated article shall be cleaned or treated as required by an inspector, and the regulated article and any products of the regulated article shall also be subject to reinspection, cleaning, and treatment at the option of an inspector at any time and place before all applicable requirements of this subpart have been accomplished.

(2) Regulated articles shall be assembled for inspection at the port of first arrival, or at any other place prescribed by an inspector, at a place and time and in a manner designated by an inspector.

(3) If an inspector finds that an imported regulated article is so infested with a plant pest that, in the judgment of the inspector, the regulated article cannot be cleaned or treated, or contains soil or other prohibited contaminants, the entire lot may be refused entry into the United States.

(4) No person shall move any imported regulated article from the port of first arrival unless and until an inspector notifies the person, in writing or through an electronic database, that the regulated article:

(i) Is in compliance with all applicable regulations and has been inspected and found to be apparently free of plant pests; 2 or,

(ii) Has been inspected and the inspector requires reinspection, cleaning, or treatment of the regulated article at a place other than the port of first arrival.

(b) Notice of arrival; visual examination of regulated articles at port of first arrival. (1) At least 7 days prior to the expected date of arrival in the United States of a shipment of regulated articles imported in accordance with this subpart, the permittee or his or her agent must notify the APHIS Officer in Charge at the port of arrival of the date of expected arrival. The address and telephone number of the APHIS Officer in Charge will be specified in any specific permit issued by APHIS 3 . This notice may be by any authorized method. The notice must include the number of any specific permit issued for the regulated articles; the name, if any, of the means of conveyance carrying the regulated articles; the type and quantity of the regulated articles; the expected date of arrival; the country of origin of the regulated articles; the name and the number, if any, of the dock or area where the regulated articles are to be unloaded; and the name of the importer or broker at the port of arrival.

(2) Imported regulated articles which have been debarked in accordance with § 319.40-7(b) and can be safely and practically inspected will be visually examined for plant pests by an inspector at the port of first arrival. If plant pests are found on or in the regulated articles or if the regulated article cannot be safely and practically inspected, the regulated articles must be treated in accordance with part 305 of this chapter.

(c) Marking and identity of regulated articles. Any regulated article, at the time of importation shall bear on the outer container (if in a container), on the regulated article (if not in a container), or on a document accompanying the regulated article the following information:

(1) General nature and quantity of the regulated articles;

(2) Country and locality, if known, where the tree from which the regulated article was derived was harvested;

(3) Name and address of the person importing the regulated article;

(4) Name and address of consignee of the regulated article;

(5) Identifying shipper's mark and number; and

(6) Number of the permit (if one was issued) authorizing the importation of the regulated article into the United States.

(d) Sampling for plant pests at port of first arrival. Any imported regulated article may be sampled for plant pests at the port of first arrival. If an inspector finds it necessary to order treatment of a regulated article at the port of first arrival, any sampling will be done prior to treatment.

The services of an inspector during regularly assigned hours of duty and at the usual places of duty shall be furnished without cost to the importer. 4 The inspector may require the importer to furnish any labor, chemicals, packing materials, or other supplies required in handling regulated articles under this subpart. APHIS will not be responsible for any costs or charges, other than those identified in this section.

When evaluating a request to import a regulated article not allowed importation under this subpart, or a request to import a regulated article under conditions other than those prescribed by this subpart, APHIS will conduct the following analysis to determine the plant pest risks associated with each requested importation in order to determine whether or not to issue a permit under this subpart or to propose regulations establishing conditions for the importation into the United States of the regulated article.

(a) Collecting commodity information. (1) APHIS will evaluate the application for information describing the regulated article and the origin, processing, treatment, and handling of the regulated article; and

(2) APHIS will evaluate history of past plant pest interceptions or introductions (including data from foreign countries) associated with the regulated article.

(b) Cataloging quarantine pests. For the regulated article specified in an application, APHIS will determine what plant pests or potential plant pests are associated with the type of tree from which the regulated article was derived, in the country and locality from which the regulated article is to be exported. A plant pest that meets one of the following criteria is a quarantine pest and will be further evaluated in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section:

(1) Non-indigenous plant pest not present in the United States;

(2) Non-indigenous plant pest, present in the United States and capable of further dissemination in the United States;

(3) Non-indigenous plant pest that is present in the United States and has reached probable limits of its ecological range, but differs genetically from the plant pest in the United States in a way that demonstrates a potential for greater damage potential in the United States;

(4) Native species of the United States that has reached probable limits of its ecological range, but differs genetically from the plant pest in the United States in a way that demonstrates a potential for greater damage potential in the United States; or

(5) Non-indigenous or native plant pest that may be able to vector another plant pest that meets one of the criteria in paragraphs (b)(1) through (4) of this section.

(c) Determining which quarantine pests to assess. (1) APHIS will divide quarantine pests identified in paragraph (b) of this section into groups depending upon where the plant pest is most likely to be found. The plant pests would be grouped as follows:

(i) Plant pests found on the bark;

(ii) Plant pests found under the bark; and

(iii) Plant pests found in the wood.

(2) APHIS will subdivide each of the groups in paragraph (c)(1) of this section into associated taxa.

(3) APHIS will rank the plant pests in each group in paragraph (c)(2) of this section according to plant pest risk, based on the available biological information and demonstrated plant pest importance.

(4) APHIS will identify any plant pests ranked in paragraph (c)(3) of this section for which plant pest risk assessments have previously been performed in accordance with this section. APHIS will conduct individual plant pest risk assessments for the remaining plant pests, starting with the highest ranked plant pest(s) in each group.

(5) The number of plant pests in each group to be evaluated through individual plant pest risk assessment will be based on biological similarities of members of the group as they relate to measures taken in connection with the importation of the regulated article to mitigate the plant pest risk associated with the regulated article. For example, if the plant pest risk assessment for the highest ranked plant pest indicates a need for a mitigation measure that would result in the same reduction of risk for other plant pests ranked in the group, the other members need not be subjected to individual plant pest risk assessment.

(d) Conducting individual plant pest risk assessments. APHIS will evaluate each of the plant pests identified in paragraph (c)(4) of this section by:

(1) Estimation of the probability of the plant pest being on, with, or in the regulated article at the time of importation;

(2) Estimation of the probability of the plant pest surviving in transit on the regulated article and entering the United States undetected;

(3) Estimation of the probability of the plant pest colonizing once it has entered into the United States;

(4) Estimation of the probability of the plant pest spreading beyond any colonized area; and

(5) Estimation of the damage to plants that could be expected upon introduction and dissemination within the United States of the plant pest.

(e) Estimating unmitigated overall plant pest risk. APHIS will develop an estimation of the overall plant pest risk associated with importing the regulated article based on compilation of individual plant pest risk assessments performed in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section.

(f) Evaluating available requirements to determine whether they would allow safe importation of the regulated article. The requirements of this subpart, and any other requirements relevant to the regulated article and plant pests involved, will be compared with the individual plant pest risk assessments in order to determine whether particular conditions on the importation of the regulated article would reduce the plant pest risk to an insignificant level. If APHIS determines that the imposition of particular conditions on the importation of the regulated article could reduce the plant pest risk to an insignificant level, and determines that sufficient APHIS resources are available to implement or ensure implementation of the conditions, APHIS will implement rulemaking to allow importation of the requested regulated article under the conditions identified by the plant pest risk assessment process.