Plant Health Domestic Program and Emergency Response Manuals

Last Modified: December 05, 2024

APHIS works with Federal and State partners and authorized cooperators to carry out its mission of safeguarding U.S. agriculture and facilitating safe trade. The following manuals are for APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) employees and others authorized by PPQ to carry out official plant health programs and emergency response operations.

Visit the commodity import and export manuals page to see manuals related to importing and exporting agricultural commodities.

Domestic Program Manuals

Emerald Ash Borer Program Manual

Details procedures that PPQ and State department of agriculture personnel can use to manage emerald ash borer infestations.

Emerald Ash Borer Program Manual (4.39 MB) (June 2024)

Exotic Fruit Fly

Provides instructions and procedures for PPQ personnel to improve and standardize decision making, training, and quality control for exotic fruit fly detection surveys.

National Exotic Fruit Fly Detection Trapping Guidelines (813.38 KB) (October 2024)

Golden Nematode Program Manual

Provides instructions and procedures for PPQ and State regulatory officials to carry out detection and delimiting surveys, treat and certify regulated articles for movement from regulated areas, determine the movement status of regulated and nonregulated articles, and take regulatory action when golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) is detected.

Golden Nematode Program Manual (2.02 MB) (December 2024)

Imported Fire Ant Program Manual

Provides procedures for PPQ personnel and cooperators to carry out surveys, treat regulated articles for movement from regulated areas, and take regulatory action when imported fire ants are detected outside quarantined areas.

Imported Fire Ant Program Manual (1.46 MB) (October 2024)

Japanese Beetle Program Manual for Airports

Provides procedures for PPQ personnel, State cooperators, and airport staff to prevent the spread of Japanese beetle via aircraft to nine Western States.

Japanese Beetle Program Manual for Airports (1.07 MB)(October 2024)

Khapra Beetle Manual

Provides procedures for PPQ personnel and cooperators to eradicate isolated khapra beetle infestations, prevent human-assisted spread of this pest, and detect low population infestations.

Khapra Beetle Manual (250.32 KB) (April 2024)

Phytophthora Ramorum Domestic Regulatory Program Manual

Provides procedures for PPQ and State department of agriculture inspectors to detect Phytophthora ramorum in nurseries that ship plants interstate.

Phytophthora ramorum Domestic Regulatory Program Manual (3.96 MB) (October 2024)

Postentry Quarantine Manual for State Inspectors

Provides procedures for State inspectors to carry out postentry quarantine tasks beginning with the request to approve a growing site and ending with the release or refusal of the plant material.

Postentry Quarantine Manual for State Inspectors (5.42 MB) (November 2024)

Spongy Moth Program Manual

Provides procedures for PPQ and Federal and State regulatory officials to carry out spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth) program activities.

Spongy Moth Program Manual (1.91 MB) (October 2024)

Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control Agents of Weeds Manual

Provides guidance to researchers preparing and submitting petitions or test plant lists associated with the proposed release of biological control agents of weeds and technical advisory group members responsible for reviewing and evaluating petitions and test plant lists.

Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control Agents of Weeds Manual (4.6 MB)(May 2024)

Treatment Manual

The information in the Treatment Manual is available in ACIR. See stakeholder announcement for additional information.

Guides PPQ employees in selecting and conducting chemical and nonchemical treatments to prevent the movement of agricultural pests into or within the United States. Note: The procedures and treatment schedules in this manual are authorized for use only by APHIS.