§ 7701. — Findings.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC7701]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 104--PLANT PROTECTION
Sec. 7701. Findings
Congress finds that--
(1) the detection, control, eradication, suppression,
prevention, or retardation of the spread of plant pests or noxious
weeds is necessary for the protection of the agriculture,
environment, and economy of the United States;
(2) biological control is often a desirable, low-risk means of
ridding crops and other plants of plant pests and noxious weeds, and
its use should be facilitated by the Department of Agriculture,
other Federal agencies, and States whenever feasible;
(3) it is the responsibility of the Secretary to facilitate
exports, imports, and interstate commerce in agricultural products
and other commodities that pose a risk of harboring plant pests or
noxious weeds in ways that will reduce, to the extent practicable,
as determined by the Secretary, the risk of dissemination of plant
pests or noxious weeds;
(4) decisions affecting imports, exports, and interstate
movement of products regulated under this chapter shall be based on
sound science;
(5) the smooth movement of enterable plants, plant products,
biological control organisms, or other articles into, out of, or
within the United States is vital to the United State's economy and
should be facilitated to the extent possible;
(6) export markets could be severely impacted by the
introduction or spread of plant pests or noxious weeds into or
within the United States;
(7) the unregulated movement of plant pests, noxious weeds,
plants, certain biological control organisms, plant products, and
articles capable of harboring plant pests or noxious weeds could
present an unacceptable risk of introducing or spreading plant pests
or noxious weeds;
(8) the existence on any premises in the United States of a
plant pest or noxious weed new to or not known to be widely
prevalent in or distributed within and throughout the United States
could constitute a threat to crops and other plants or plant
products of the United States and burden interstate commerce or
foreign commerce; and
(9) all plant pests, noxious weeds, plants, plant products,
articles capable of harboring plant pests or noxious weeds regulated
under this chapter are in or affect interstate commerce or foreign
commerce.
(Pub. L. 106-224, title IV, Sec. 402, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 438.)
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in pars. (4) and (9), was in the original
``this title'', meaning title IV of Pub. L. 106-224, June 20, 2000, 114
Stat. 438, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete
classification of title IV to the Code, see Short Title note set out
below and Tables.
Short Title
Pub. L. 106-224, title IV, Sec. 401, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 438,
provided that: ``This title [enacting this chapter, amending section
7759 of this title and section 129a of Title 21, Food and Drugs, and
repealing sections 148, 148a, 148c to 148f, 149, 150, 150a to 150g,
150aa to 150jj, 151 to 154, 156 to 164, 164a, 167, 1651 to 1656, and
2801 to 2813 of this title, and provisions set out as notes under
sections 147a, 150, 150aa, 151, and 1651 of this title] may be cited as
the `Plant Protection Act'.''
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of the Secretary of Agriculture relating
to agricultural import and entry inspection activities under this
chapter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of
related references, see sections 231, 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title
6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security
Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note
under section 542 of Title 6.
