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that of the absorbent material between the primary and secondary containers, shall be placed at the top, bottom, and sides between the secondary container and the outer shipping container. Single primary containers shall not contain more than 1,000 ml. of material. However, two or more primary containers whose combined volumes do not exceed 1,000 ml. may be placed in a single, secondary container. The maximum amount of micro-organisms or etiologic agents, cells, or subcellular elements which may be enclosed within a single outer shipping container shall not exceed 4,000 ml.

(iii) Dry ice. If dry ice is used as a refrigerant, it shall be placed outside the secondary container(s). If dry ice is used between the secondary container and the outer shipping container, the shock absorbing material shall placed so that the secondary container does not become loose inside the outer shipping container as the dry ice sublimates.

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(4) Insects, mites, and related organisms. Insects, mites, and other small arthropods shall be packed for shipment as specified in this paragraph or in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. Insects (any life stage) shall be placed in an escape-proof primary shipping container (insulated vacuum container, glass, metal, plastic, etc.) and sealed to prevent escape. Such primary container shall be placed securely within a secondary shipping container of crushproof styrofoam or other material of equivalent strength; one or more rigid ice packs may also be placed within the secondary shipping container; and sufficient packing material shall be added around the primary container to prevent movement of the primary shipping container. The secondary (styrofoam or other) container shall be placed securely within an outer shipping container constructed of corrugated fiberboard, corrugated cardboard, wood, or other material of equivalent strength.

(5) Other macroscopic organisms. Other macroscopic organisms not covered in paragraphs (b) (1), (2), and (4) of this section which do not require continuous access to atmospheric oxygen shall be packaged as specified in paragraph (b)(3) or (b)(4) of this section. All

macroscopic organisms which are not plants and which require continuous access to atmospheric oxygen shall be placed in primary shipping containers constructed of a sturdy, crush-proof frame of wood, metal, or equivalent strength material, surrounded by escape-proof

mesh or netting of a strength and mesh size sufficient to prevent the escape of the smallest organism in the shipment, with edges and seams of the mesh or netting sealed to prevent escape of organisms. Each primary shipping container shall be securely placed within a larger secondary shipping container constructed of

wood, metal, or equivalent strength material. The primary and secondary shipping containers shall then be placed securely within an outer shipping container constructed of corrugated fiberboard, corrugated cardboard, wood, or other material of equivalent strength, which outer container may have air holes or spaces in the sides and/or ends of the container, provided that the outer shipping container must retain sufficient strength to prevent crushing of the primary and secondary shipping containers.

(c) Request for a variance from container requirements. A responsible person who believes the container requirements normally applicable to the movement of the person's regulated article(s) are inappropriate due to unique circumstances (such as the nature, volume, or life stage of the regulated article) may submit in an application for a permit, a request for a variance from the container requirements. The request for a variance under this section shall consist of a short statement describing why the normally applicable container requirements are inappropriate for the regulated article which the person proposes to move and what container requirements the person would use in lieu of the normally prescribed container requirements. USDA shall advise the responsible person in writing at the time a permit is granted on the person's request for a variance. [52 FR 22908, June 16, 1987. Redesignated at 58 FR 17056, Mar. 31, 1993; 62 FR 23956, May 2, 1997]

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1.6

Packages in closed mail dispatches. 1.7 Regulations governing importation by mail of plant material for immediate export.

CROSS REFERENCE: For customs regulations verning importation of plants and plant oducts, see 19 CFR part 12.

AUTHORITY: 7 U.S.C. 150bb, 150dd, 150ee, 160, d 162; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).

51.1 Joint treatment generally. Under various orders, quarantines, d regulations promulgated by the Iministrator of the Animal and Plant ealth Inspection Service under auority of the Plant Quarantine Act of gust 20, 1912 (37 Stat. 315-319, 7 S.C. 151 et seq.), as amended, and the ederal Plant Pest Act of May 23, 1957 1 Stat. 31-35; 7 U.S.C. 150aa-150jj), the try into the United States of certain ants, plant products, and soil is probited or restricted. As an aid in enrcing these or subsequent orders, arantines, and regulations, provions have been made by the Plant Proction and Quarantine Programs of e U.S. Department of Agriculture, ncurrently with the Postal and Cus

3 The Department's provisions relating to ertime charges for an inspector's services e set forth in 7 CFR part 354.

190-013 D-00--13

375

toms Services, to insure closer inspection of such importations.

[24 FR 9923, Dec. 9, 1959, as amended at 36 FR 24917, Dec. 24, 1971; 37 FR 10554, May 25, 1972] §351.2 Location of inspectors.

Inspectors of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs and customs officers are stationed at the following locations:

Anchorage, Alaska, Arlington, Va., Atlanta, Ga., Baltimore, Md., Baton Rouge, La., Blaine, Wash., Boston, Mass., Brownsville, Tex., Buffalo, N.Y., Calexico, Calif., Chantilly, Va., Charleston, S.C., Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, V.I., Chicago, Ill., Christiansted, St. Croix, V.I., Cleveland, Ohio., Corpus Christi, Tex., Dallas, Tex., Del Rio, Tex., Detroit, Mich., Douglas, Ariz., Dover, Del., Duluth, Minn., Eagle Pass, Tex., El Paso, Tex., Galveston, Tex., Hidalgo, Tex., Hilo, Hawaii, Hoboken, N.J., Honolulu, Hawaii, Houston, Tex., Jacksonville, Fla., Jamaica, L.I., N.Y., Key West, Fla., Laredo, Tex., McGuire AFB, N.J., Memphis, Tenn., Miami, Fla., Milwaukee, Wis., Mobile, Ala., New Orleans, La., New York, N.Y., Newport News, Va., Nogales, Ariz., Norfolk, Va., Pensacola, Fla., Philadelphia, Pa., Port Arthur, Tex., Port Canaveral, Fla., Port Everglades, Fla., Portland, Oreg., Presidio, Tex., Progreso, Tex., Ramey AFB, P.R., Roma, Tex., Rouses Point, N.Y., St. Paul, Minn., San Antonio, Tex., San Diego, Calif., San Francisco, Calif., San Juan, P.R., San Luis, Ariz., San Pedro, Calif., San Ysidro, Calif., Savannah, Ga., Seattle, Wash., Tampa, Fla., Toledo, Ohio, Washington, DC, West Palm Beach, Fla., Wilmington, N.C.

[28 FR 5203, May 24, 1963, as amended at 36 FR 24917, Dec. 24, 1971]

§351.3 Procedure on arrival.

All parcel post or other mail packages from foreign countries which, either from examination or external evidence, are found or are believed to contain plants or plant products, shall be dispatched for submission, or actually submitted, to the plant quarantine inspector at the most accessible location listed in §351.2. The inspector shall pass upon the contents under the Plant Quarantine Act and Federal Plant Pest Act and with the cooperation of the customs and postal officers either

(a) Release the package from further plant quarantine examination and endorse his decision thereon; or

(b) Divert it to the Plant Quarantine Station at Washington, DC, Brownsville, Tex., Hoboken, N.J., Honolulu, Hawaii, Jamaica, L.I., N.Y., Laredo, Tex., Miami, Fla., New Orleans, La., San Francisco, Calif., San Juan, P.R., San Pedro, Calif., or Seattle, Wash., for whatever disposition is deemed warranted. If so diverted, the plant quarantine inspector shall attach to the package the yellow and green special mailing tag addressed to the proper quarantine station. A package so diverted shall be accompanied by customs card Form 3511 and transmitted to the appropriate Customs office for referral to the Plant Quarantine Station. Envelopes containing customs card Form 3511 addressed to the collector of customs, New York, N.Y., shall contain a notation that the material is to be referred to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs, Hoboken, N.J.

[24 FR 9923, Dec. 9, 1959, as amended at 28 FR 5204, May 24, 1963, as amended at 36 FR 24917, Dec. 24, 1971]

8351.4 Records.

The customs officers at Washington, DC, Brownsville, Tex., Hoboken, N.J., Honolulu, Hawaii, Jamaica, L.I., N.Y., Laredo, Tex., Miami, Fla., New Orleans, La., San Francisco, Calif., San Juan, P.R., San Pedro, Calif., or Seattle, Wash., shall keep a record of such packages as may be delivered to representatives of the Department of Agriculture, and upon the return thereof shall prepare a mail entry to accompany the dutiable package and deliver it to the postmaster for delivery or onward dispatch or in appropriate cases subject the shipment to formal customs entry procedure.

[28 FR 5204, May 24, 1963]

§351.5 Return or destruction.

Where the plant quarantine inspector requires the entire shipment to be returned to the country of origin as a prohibited importation (in which event he shall endorse his action thereon) and delivers the shipment to the collector of customs, the collector shall in turn deliver it to the postmaster for dispatch to the country of origin. If, upon examination, the plant material

is deemed dangerous to plant life, the collector of customs shall permit the plant quarantine inspector to destroy immediately both the container and its contents. In either case the plant quarantine inspector shall notify the addressee of the action taken and the reason therefor. If the objectionable plant material forms only a portion of the contents of the mail package and in the judgment of the inspector the package can safely be delivered to the addressee, after removing and destroying the objectionable material, such procedure is authorized. In the latter case the inspector shall place in the package a memorandum (Form AQI387) informing the addressee of the action taken by the inspector and describing the matter which has been seized and destroyed and the reasons therefor.

[24 FR 9923, Dec. 9, 1959, as amended at 36 FR 24917, Dec. 24, 1971]

§351.6 Packages in closed mail dispatches.

The foregoing instructions shall be followed in the treatment of packages containing plants or plant products received in closed mail dispatches made up for transmission directly to a post office located at a customs port at which no plant quarantine inspector is stationed. Such packages (accompanied by customs card Form 3511) shall be forwarded by the collector of customs through the postmaster to the most accessible location listed in §351.2 for appropriate treatment in the manner herein before provided. This procedure shall also be followed in respect to such packages which are forwarded to unlisted post offices from the post office of original receipt, without having received plant quarantine examination. Packages discovered at post offices where no customs officer is located shall be forwarded by the postmaster under his official penalty envelope addressed to the collector of customs at the most accessible location listed for appropriate treatment as prescribed herein.

[24 FR 9923, Dec. 9, 1959, as amended at 36 FR 24917, Dec. 24, 1971]

$351.7 Regulations governing importa

tion by mail of plant material for immediate export.

To collectors of customs and others concerned:

(a) Shipments of plant material may be imported by mail free of duty for immediate exportation by mail subject to the following regulations, which have been approved by the Department of Agriculture and the Post Office Department:

(1) Each shipment shall be dispatched in the mails from abroad, accompanied by a yellow and green special mail tag bearing the serial number of the permit for entry for immediate exportation or immediate transportation and exportation, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and also the postal form of customs declaration.

(2) Upon arrival, the shipment shall be detained by, or redispatched to, the postmaster at Washington, DC, Brownsville, Tex., Hoboken, N.J., Honolulu, Hawaii, Jamaica, L.I., N.Y., Laredo, Tex., Miami, Fla., New Orleans, La., San Francisco, Calif., San Juan, P.R., San Pedro, Calif., or Seattle, Wash., as may be appropriate, according to the address on the yellow and green tag, and there submitted to the customs officer and the Federal quarantine inspector. The merchandise shall under no circumstances be permitted to enter the commerce of the United States.

(3) After inspection by the customs and quarantine officers, and with their approval, the addressee, or his authorized agent, shall repack and readdress the mail parcel under customs supervision; affix to the parcel the necessary postage, and comply with other mailing requirements, after which the parcel shall be delivered to the postmaster for exportation by mail pursuant to 19 CFR 9.11(a). The contents of the original parcel may be subdivided and exported in separate parcels in like man

ner.

(4) It will not be necessary to issue a customs mail entry nor to require formal entry of the shipments.

(5) The mail shipments referred to shall be accorded special handling only at the points specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

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(a) This part may be cited by the short title: "Safeguard Regulations." This title shall be understood to include both the regulations and administrative instructions in this part.

(b) Words used in the singular form in this part shall be deemed to import the plural and vice versa as the case may demand. For purposes of this part, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall be construed, respectively, to mean:

(1) Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs. The Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs, Animal and

Plant Health Inspection Service, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(2) Deputy Administrator. The Deputy Administrator of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs, or any officer or employee of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs to whom authority has heretofore been delegated or may hereafter be delegated to act in his stead.

(3) Inspector. A properly identified employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or other person authorized by the Department to enforce the provisions of the Federal Plant Pest Act and the Plant Quarantine Act.

(4) Customs. The Bureau of Customs, U.S. Treasury Department, or, with reference to Guam, the Customs Office of the Government of Guam.

(5) Person. Any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, or joint stock company.

(6) Owner. The owner, or his agent (including the operator of a carrier), having responsible custody of a plant, plant product, plant pest, soil, or other product or article subject to this part.

(7) Carrier; means of conveyance. Automobile, truck, animal-drawn vehicle, railway car, aircraft, ship, or other means of transportation.

(8) Ship. Any means of transportation by water.

(9) Stores and furnishings. Plants and plant products for use on board a carrier; e.g. as food or decorative material.

(10) Plant pest. "Plant pest" means any living stage of: Any insects, mites, nematodes, slugs, snails, protozoa, or other invertebrate animals, bacteria, fungi, other parasitic plants or reproductive parts thereof, viruses, or any organisms similar to or allied with any of the foregoing, or any infectious substances, which can directly or indirectly injure or cause disease or damage in any plants or parts thereof, or any processed, manufactured, or other products of plants.

(11) Plants and plant products. Nursery stock, other plants, plant parts, roots, bulbs, seeds, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and other plant products, and any product constituted, in whole or in part, of plant material which has not

been so manufactured or processed as to eliminate pest risk.

(12) Soil. The loose surface material of the earth in which plants grow, in most cases consisting of disintegrated rock with an admixture of organic material and soluble salts.

(13) Other product or article. Any product or article of any character whatsoever (other than plants, plant products, soil, plant pests, and means of conveyance), which an inspector considers may be infested or infected by or contain a plant pest.

(14)-(16) [Reserved]

(17) Immediate (export, trans-shipment, or transportation and exportation). The period which, in the opinion of the inspector, is the shortest practicable interval of time between the arrival of an incoming carrier and the departure of the outgoing carrier transporting a consignment of prohibited or restricted products or articles.

(18) Safeguard. A procedure for handling, maintaining, or disposing of prohibited or restricted products and articles subject to this part so as to eliminate the risk of plant pest dissemination which the prohibited or restricted products and articles may present.

(19) Plant Quarantine Act. The act of August 20, 1912, as amended (37 Stat. 315, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).

(20) The Federal Plant Pest Act. Title I of the Act of May 23, 1957 (Title I, 71 Stat. 31; 7 U.S.C. 150aa et seq.).

(21) Brought in for temporary stay where unloading or landing is not intended. Brought in by carrier but not intended to be unloaded or landed from such carrier. This phrase includes movement (i) departing from the United States on the same carrier directly from the point of arrival therein; and (ii) transiting a part of the United States before departure therefrom, and applies whether movement under Customs procedure is as residue cargo or follows some form of Customs entry.

(22) Unloaded or landed for transshipment and exportation. Brought in by carrier and transferred to another carrier for exportation from the same port, whether or not some form of Customs entry is made.

(23) Unloaded or landed for transportation and exportation. Brought in by

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