(a) Notice of quarantine. The following States are quarantined to prevent the spread of the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.)): Florida.

(b) List of regulated articles. The Deputy Administrator has determined that certain articles present a risk of spreading pink bollworm. A list of all such regulated articles is found on the internet at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/cotton-pests/cotton-pests. Lists of all regulated articles may also be obtained by request from any local PPQ office; local offices are listed in telephone directories and on the internet at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ppq-program-overview/sphd.

(c) Normal process for designating additional regulated articles. (1) If the Deputy Administrator determines that an article not already listed at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/cotton-pests/cotton-pests presents a risk of spreading pink bollworm, APHIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register proposing to designate the article as a regulated article for pink bollworm. The notice will provide the basis for this determination, and will request public comment.

(2) If no comments are received on the notice, or if the comments do not change the Deputy Administrator's determination, APHIS will publish a second notice in the Federal Register designating the article as a regulated article for pink bollworm and listing it.

(d) Immediate designation of regulated articles. An inspector may designate any other product, article, or means of conveyance as a regulated article for pink bollworm, if the inspector determines that it presents a risk of spreading pink bollworm, and after the inspector provides actual notification to the person in possession of the product, article, or means of conveyance that it is subject to the restrictions of this subpart.

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

Certificate. A document issued or authorized to be issued under this subpart by an inspector to allow the interstate movement of regulated articles to any destination.

Compliance agreement. A written agreement between a person engaged in growing, handling, or moving regulated articles, and the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs, wherein the former agrees to comply with the requirements of this subpart identified in the agreement by the inspector who executes the agreement on behalf of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs as applicable to the operations of such person.

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

Generally infested area. Any part of a regulated area not designated as a suppressive area in accordance with § 301.52-2.

Infestation. The presence of the pink bollworm or the existence of circumstances that make it reasonable to believe that pink bollworm is present.

Inspector. Any employee of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or other person authorized by the Deputy Administrator to enforce the provisions of the quarantine and regulations in this subpart.

Interstate. From any State, territory, or district of the United States into or through any other State, territory, or district of the United States (including Puerto Rico).

Limited permit. A document issued or authorized to be issued by an inspector to allow the interstate movement of noncertified regulated articles to a specified destination for limited handling, utilization, or processing or for treatment.

Moved (movement, move). Shipped, offered for shipment to a common carrier, received for transportation or transported by a common carrier, or carried, transported, moved, or allowed to be moved by any means. “Movement” and “move” shall be construed accordingly.

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

Pink bollworm. The live insect known as the pink bollworm of cotton (Pectinophora gossypiella Saund.), in any stage of development.

Regulated area. Any quarantined State, territory, or district, or any portion thereof, listed in accordance with § 301.52-2.

Regulated articles. Any article identified as a regulated article under § 301.52 as follows: listed as of January 30, 2023, added in accordance with § 301.52(c), or otherwise designated in accordance with § 301.52(d).

Restricted destination permit. A document issued or authorized to be issued by an inspector to allow the interstate movement of regulated articles not certified under all applicable Federal domestic plant quarantines to a specified destination for other than scientific purposes.

Scientific permit. A document issued by the Deputy Administrator to allow the interstate movement to a specified destination of regulated articles for scientific purposes.

Suppressive area. That part of a regulated area where eradication of infestation is undertaken as an objective, as designated by the Deputy Administrator in accordance with § 301.52-2.

(a) The Deputy Administrator will list as a regulated area each State or portion of a State in which evidence of a reproducing population of pink bollworm is present, or in which there is reason to believe that pink bollworm is present, or which it is deemed necessary to regulate because of their proximity to infestation or their inseparability for quarantine enforcement purposes from infested localities. The Deputy Administrator may divide any regulated area into a suppressive area and a generally infested area in accordance with the definitions of these terms in § 301.52-1. The Deputy Administrator will publish a list of all regulated areas, including the suppressive and generally infested areas therein, at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/cotton-pests/cotton-pests. The list will include the date that the list was last updated. Lists of all regulated areas, including the suppressive and generally infested areas therein, may also be obtained by request from any local office of PPQ; local offices are listed in telephone directories and on the internet at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ppq-program-overview/sphd. After a change is made to the list of regulated areas, APHIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register informing the public that the change has occurred and describing the change to the regulated areas. Less than an entire State will be designated as a regulated area only if the Deputy Administrator determines that:

(1) The State has adopted and is enforcing restrictions on the intrastate movement of regulated articles that are equivalent to those imposed by this subpart on the interstate movement of regulated articles; and

(2) The designation of less than an entire State as a regulated area will be adequate to prevent the artificial interstate spread of pink bollworm.

(b) [Reserved]

Any regulated articles may be moved interstate from any quarantined State under the following conditions: 1

(a) From any regulated area, with certificate or permit issued and attached in accordance with §§ 301.52-4 and 301.52-7 if moved:

(1) From any regulated area into or through any point outside of the regulated areas; or

(2) From any generally infested area into or through any suppressive area; or

(3) Between any noncontiguous suppressive areas; or

(4) Between contiguous suppressive areas when it is determined by the inspector that the regulated articles present a hazard of the spread of the pink bollworm and the person in possession thereof has been so notified; or

(b) From any regulated area, without certificate or permit if moved;

(1) From a generally infested area to a contiguous generally infested area; or

(2) From a suppressive area to a contiguous generally infested area; or

(3) Between contiguous suppressive areas unless the person in possession of the articles has been notified by an inspector that a hazard of spread of the pink bollworm exists; or

(4) Through or reshipped from any regulated area if the articles originated outside of any regulated area and if the point of origin of the articles is clearly indicated, their identity has been maintained and they have been safeguarded against infestation while in the regulated area in a manner satisfactory to the inspector; or

(c) From any area outside the regulated areas, without a certificate or permit if the point of origin of such movement is clearly indicated on the articles or shipping document which accompanies the articles and if the movement is not made through any regulated area.

(a) Certificates may be issued for any regulated articles by any inspector if he determines that they are eligible for certification for movement to any destination under all Federal domestic plant quarantines applicable to such articles and:

(1) Have originated in noninfested premises in a regulated area and have not been exposed to infestation while within the regulated areas; or

(2) Upon examination, have been found to be free of infestation; or

(3) Have been treated to destroy infestation in accordance with part 305 of this chapter; or

(4) Have been grown, produced, manufactured, stored, or handled in such manner that no infestation would be transmitted thereby.

(b) Limited permits may be issued by an inspector to allow interstate movement of regulated articles, not eligible for certification under this subpart, to specified destinations for limited handling, utilization, or processing, or for treatment in accordance with part 305 of this chapter, when upon evaluation of the circumstances involved in each specific case the inspector determines that such movement will not result in the spread of the pink bollworm and requirements of other applicable Federal domestic plant quarantines have been met.

(c) Restricted destination permits may be issued by an inspector to allow the interstate movement of regulated articles to any destination permitted under all applicable Federal domestic plant quarantines (for other than scientific purposes) if such articles are not eligible for certification under all such quarantines but would otherwise qualify for certification under this subpart.

(d) Scientific permits may be issued by the Deputy Administrator to allow the interstate movement of regulated articles for scientific purposes under such conditions as may be prescribed in each specific case by the Deputy Administrator.

(e) Certificate, limited permit, and restricted destination permit forms may be issued by an inspector to any person for use by the latter for subsequent shipments provided such person is operating under a compliance agreement; and any such person may be authorized by an inspector to reproduce such forms on shipping containers or otherwise. Any such person may use the certificate forms, or reproductions of such forms, for the interstate movement of regulated articles from the premises of such person identified in the compliance agreement if such person has made one of the determination specified in paragraph (a) of this section with respect to such articles. Any such person may use the limited permit forms, or reproductions of such forms, for interstate movement of regulated articles to specific destinations authorized by the inspector in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section. Any such person may use the restricted destination permit forms, or reproductions of such forms, for the interstate movement of regulated articles not eligible for certification under all Federal domestic plant quarantines applicable to such articles, under the conditions specified in paragraph (c) of this section.

(f) Any certificate or permit which has been issued or authorized may be withdrawn by the inspector if the inspector determines that the holder thereof has not complied with any condition for the use of such document imposed by this subpart.

(a) Any person engaged in the business of growing, handling, or moving regulated articles may enter into a compliance agreement to facilitate the movement of such articles under this subpart. Compliance agreement forms may be obtained from the Deputy Administrator or an inspector.

(b) Any compliance agreement may be cancelled by the inspector who is supervising its enforcement whenever the inspector finds, after notice and reasonable opportunity to present views has been accorded to the other party thereto, that such other party has failed to comply with the conditions of the agreement.

Persons (other than those authorized to use certificates, limited permits, or restricted destination permits, or reproductions thereof, under § 301.52-4(e)) who desire to move interstate regulated articles which must be accompanied by a certificate or permit shall, as far in advance as possible, request an inspector to examine the articles prior to movement. Such articles shall be assembled at such points and in such manner as the inspector designates to facilitate inspection.

(a) If a certificate or permit is required for the interstate movement of regulated articles, the certificate or permit shall be securely attached to the outside of the container in which such articles are moved, except that, where the certificate or permit is attached to the waybill or other shipping document, and the regulated articles are adequately described on the certificate, permit, or shipping document, the attachment of the certificate or permit to each container of the articles is not required.

(b) In all cases, certificates or permits shall be furnished by the carrier to the consignee at the destination of the shipment.

Any properly identified inspector is authorized to stop and inspect, and to seize, destroy, or otherwise dispose of, or require disposal of regulated articles and pink bollworms as provided sections 414, 421, and 434 of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7714, 7731, and 7754), in accordance with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.

Regulations requiring a permit for, and otherwise governing the movement of live pink bollworms in interstate or foreign commerce are contained in the Federal Plant Pest regulations in part 330 of this chapter. Applications for permits for the movement of the pest may be made to the Deputy Administrator.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture disclaims liability for any costs incident to inspections or compliance with the provisions of the quarantine and regulations in this subpart, other than for the services of the inspector.