The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the cabinet-level executive department responsible for federal agricultural policy. Three USDA sub-agencies serve as Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) at the border alongside CBP:
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) — Regulates imports of live animals, animal products, plants, plant products, soil, and biotechnology products. Enforces sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements and prevents introduction of pests and diseases.
- Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) — Regulates imports of meat, poultry, and egg products. FSIS inspectors review every shipment of regulated product at official FSIS Import Inspection Establishments.
- Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) — Administers marketing orders, grade standards, and country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for many agricultural commodities.
USDA filings are submitted electronically through the ACE PGA Message Set. Most regulated commodities require an APHIS or FSIS permit, certificate of inspection from the exporting country's competent authority, and a port-of-entry inspection before release.
Common USDA holds at U.S. ports include:
- Wood packaging materials lacking ISPM-15 markings
- Fresh produce from countries with active pest outbreaks
- Meat or poultry from facilities not approved by FSIS
- Live animals lacking proper veterinary documentation
Misdeclaring or smuggling regulated agricultural products can result in seizure, civil penalties, and criminal prosecution. USDA enforcement is coordinated with CBP Agriculture Specialists, who are CBP officers with specialized agricultural training.