Animal Plant Health Inspection Services
{{Expansion depth limit exceeded|ProgramName=Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service |ProgramType=Program |OrgSponsor=Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service |TopOrganization=Department of Agriculture |CreationLegislation=Secretary’s Memorandum No. 1769 of 1972 |Purpose=The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service protected and promoted U.S. agricultural health by regulating plant and animal diseases, pests, and biotechnology. It aimed to safeguard food security, natural resources, and animal welfare through inspections, quarantines, and emergency responses. |Website=https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ |ProgramStart=1972 |InitialFunding=Congressional appropriations |Duration=Ongoing |Historic=false }}
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is a multifaceted Department of Agriculture initiative that protects U.S. agricultural health by preventing the introduction and spread of plant pests, animal diseases, and invasive species, while also regulating genetically engineered organisms and administering the Animal Welfare Act across all 50 states and beyond. Operating with a workforce of approximately 7,000, including 5,000 inspectors at ports and borders, it manages programs like Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and Veterinary Services (VS), with a FY 2023 budget of $1.148 billion, supporting everything from HPAI outbreak responses to international trade standards as of 2025.
{{Expansion depth limit exceeded|url=https://www.aphis.usda.gov/}}
Goals
- Safeguard U.S. agriculture from invasive pests and diseases to maintain food security.Expansion depth limit exceeded
- Promote animal welfare and humane treatment under the Animal Welfare Act, targeting compliance across regulated entities.
- Facilitate safe agricultural trade through science-based standards and inspections.
Organization
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was directly administered by its own leadership under the Department of Agriculture, structured into six operational units—Animal Care (AC), Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS), International Services (IS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Veterinary Services (VS), and Wildlife Services (WS)—plus support units like Legislative and Public Affairs.Expansion depth limit exceeded Funding came from Congressional appropriations, with FY 2023 at $1.148 billion, supporting a staff of about 7,000 across domestic and international offices, including 15 overseas posts for trade and pest management.
The leader at the Department of Agriculture level is the APHIS Administrator, currently Kevin Shea (as of February 19, 2025).
History
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was formally established on April 2, 1972, by Secretary’s Memorandum No. 1769 of 1972, consolidating animal and plant regulatory functions from earlier USDA entities like the Bureau of Animal Industry (1884) and Entomology Office (1854).Expansion depth limit exceeded It expanded with meat and poultry inspections in 1972 (later transferred), border duties in 1974 (partly shifted to DHS in 2003), and biotech regulation in 1985. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, APHIS evolved to address modern crises like HPAI in 2025, maintaining its core mission of agricultural protection.
Funding
Initial funding in 1972 came from Congressional appropriations, though specific amounts are not isolated from broader USDA budgets.Expansion depth limit exceeded Funding began in 1972 and continues, with FY 2023 at $1.148 billion, supporting inspections, emergency responses (e.g., $12 million for chronic wasting disease in 2025), and research, supplemented by user fees and state partnerships. There’s no funding end date, with annual appropriations ensuring continuity.
Implementation
The program was implemented through operational units like PPQ and VS, conducting inspections at over 100 ports, managing quarantine programs, and responding to emergencies like HPAI outbreaks with state and international partners.Expansion depth limit exceeded It deployed 5,000 inspectors, enforced regulations (e.g., 2024 eartag rules), and operated overseas offices, ongoing with no end date, adapting to threats like invasive species in 2025.
Related
External links
- https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
- https://www.usda.gov/ - Department of Agriculture overview
- https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/animal-and-plant-health-inspection-service - Federal Register APHIS documents
- wikipedia:Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service