Investigative and Enforcement Services (IES) - Enforcement Services

When IES investigators uncover apparent violations, they prepare case reports. If a case warrants prosecution, APHIS takes legal action, usually through an administrative law process. Many cases are closed with an official warning, but sometimes IES issues stipulations which may include a civil fine or other penalty. The more serious cases or those involving repeat violations are submitted to an administrative law judge who can suspend or revoke the violator's USDA license and impose a fine. If a violation is serious enough, IES will work with the Department of Justice to build a criminal case.

IES investigates violations of:

• The Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act; 
• Agricultural import rules that prevent the introduction of exotic plant and animal pests and diseases into the United States; 
• Rules pertaining to exports of agricultural products from the United States; 
• Quarantine rules that restrict the interstate movement of certain animals, plants, and agricultural products;
• Standards that control the quality of veterinary biological products; 
• Sanitary standards for garbage and food that is fed to swine; and 
• Standards for accredited veterinarians working in Federal/State cooperative programs.
• Unauthorized release of genetically engineered organisms.