Phytosanitary Issues Management

Last Modified: February 29, 2024
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The Phytosanitary Issues Management (PIM) unit facilitates and negotiates, through the use of scientifically based processes, the safe export and import of agricultural commodities.

PIM acts on behalf of APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program as the recognized National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) for the United States under the International Plant Protection Convention. Consistent with responsibilities of this role, PIM does the following:

  • Serves as the primary point of contact for communications with trading partners (NPPO) concerning phytosanitary issues
  • Works to remove trade technical barriers by:
    • Encouraging trading partners to harmonize with international standards and guidelines
    • Initiating and presenting scientific and technical studies to support safe, science-based trade
    • Building domestic and international consensus among trading partners, industry, scientific community, PPQ, and other U.S. agencies for feasible, science-based solutions to technical trade barriers
    • Working with the PPQ field organization and State regulatory officers to implement new programs and procedures to support science-based trade
Plant Health Technical Bilateral Meetings

View information about upcoming Plant Health Technical Bilateral Meetings
Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms

The International Plant Protection Convention's Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms is a reference standard, listing terms and definitions with specific meaning for phytosanitary systems worldwide.