Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Secretary is responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Act and Convention that pertain to the importation, exportation, or reexportation of terrestrial plants. 1 The regulations in this part are for the purpose of implementing this authority. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior that correlate with the regulations in this part are contained in 50 CFR chapter I. 2

Terms used in the singular form in this part shall be construed as the plural, and vice versa, as the case may demand. The following terms, when used in this part, shall be construed, respectively, to mean:

Act. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Convention. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, TIAS 8249, 27 U.S.T. 1087, signed on March 3, 1973, and the Appendices thereto.

Deputy Administrator. The Deputy Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for Plant Protection and Quarantine, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or any other officer or employee of the Department to whom authority to act in his or her stead has been or may hereafter be delegated.

Engage in business as an importer, exporter, or reexporter of terrestrial plants. To import, export, or reexport terrestrial plants for the purpose of selling, bartering, collecting, or otherwise exchanging or acquiring the plants as a livelihood or enterprise engaged in for gain or profit. This term shall not include persons engaged in business merely as carriers or customhouse brokers.

Export (exported, exporting, exportation). To carry, send, take, transport or otherwise remove, or to attempt to carry, send, take, transport or otherwise remove from any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

Import (imported, importing, importation). To land on, bring into, or introduce into, or attempt to land on, bring into, or introduce into, any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, whether or not such landing, bringing, or introduction constitutes an importation within the meaning of the customs laws of the United States.

Inspector. Any employee of Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or other person, authorized by the Deputy Administrator in accordance with law to enforce the provisions of the Act and Convention, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Person. Any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or any other private entity; or any officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumentality of the Federal Government, of any State or political subdivision thereof or of any foreign government.

Plant. Any member of the plant kingdom, including seeds, roots and other parts thereof.

Plant Protection and Quarantine. The organizational unit within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, delegated responsibility for enforcing provisions of the Act and Convention, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Protected plant permit. PPQ Form 622, “Protected Plant Permit to Engage in the Business of Importing, Exporting, or Reexporting Terrestrial Plants Regulated by 50 CFR 17.12 and 23.23.”

Reexport (reexported, reexportation). To export following importation.

Secretary. The Secretary of Agriculture, or any other officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture to whom authority to act in his or her stead has been or may hereafter be delegated.

Terrestrial plants. Any plants (including epiphytic plants), except marine plants.

Validation. An original stamp, signature, and date of inspection placed upon documentation required by 50 CFR part 17 or part 23 by an inspector at the port where the terrestrial plants are to be imported, exported or reexported.

United States. Any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.