Federal Plant Pest Act of 1957

The Federal Plant Pest Act of 1957 (P.L. 85–36) prohibited the movement of pests from a foreign country into or through the United States unless authorized by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

It was superseded by the Plant Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106–224, Title IV). Under the new law, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) retains broad authority to inspect, seize, quarantine, treat, destroy or dispose of imported plant and animal materials that are potentially harmful to U.S. agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and, to a certain degree, natural resources. (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).

Titles of the Act
The 1957 Act was drafted as two titles defining policy standards for the control, eradication, and regulation of plant pests.


 * Title I - Federal Plant Pest Act - 7 U.S.C. §§ 150aa-150jj
 * Definitions
 * Dissemination of plant pests
 * Postal laws
 * Seizure of infected plants
 * Regulations and conditions
 * Inspections and seizures
 * Penalty
 * Separability
 * Disinfection of railway cars
 * Repeals


 * Title II - Eradication and Control of Insect Pests, Plant Diseases, and Nematodes - 7 U.S.C. § 147a
 * Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944 amendment