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Common Permitting Agencies

See the list below for agencies and common examples. 

 

 

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

International Movement

Oversight: Materials that are or may be infectious to humans

Examples : Human samples (blood, tissues, body fluids)

                   Vectors of human disease (bats, arthropods, snails)

                   Human or non-human primate remains

LINK: www.cdc.gov/cpr/ipp/index.htm

 

 

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

International and Interstate Movement

APHIS Veterinary Services (VS)

Oversight: animals or animal products

Examples: Animals (transgenic animals, tissues, embryos or sperm)

                  Animal Products (FBS, albumin)

                 Cell Lines (including Monoclonal antibodies, cell culture supernatants, ascitic fluid, cell extracts, hybridomas)

                 Recombinant Materials (bacteria, viruses, yeasts/fungi, proteins, hormones, extracts, plasmids, DNA, RNA)

LINK: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/import-animals-products/ct_import_animal_products
 

 

APHIS Organisms and Vectors (OV)

Oversight: Livestock and Poultry Pathogens

Examples: Some avian influenzas, Candida albicans, Enterococcus spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae

Full List here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-product-import/organisms-vectors/livestock-poultry-pathogens

LINK: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease

 

 

APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS)

Oversight: GMO plant pathogens

Examples: any organisms developed using genetic engineering that may pose a risk to plant health

LINK: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/biotechnology

 


 APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)

Oversight: Plants and Plant Products

Examples: Plant Pathogens or Pests (plant feeding insects, mites, snails, slugs, and plant pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi)

                  Soil           

                  Seeds

LINK: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-imports/how-to-import

 

Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) 

International and Interstate Movement

Oversight: possession, use and transfer of biological select agents and toxins, which have the potential to pose a severe threat to public, animal or plant health or to animal or plant products

Examples: Botulinum neurotoxins, Marburg virus, Rift Valley Fever virus

Full list here: https://www.selectagents.gov/sat/list.htm

**Must also have approval from University of Pittsburgh Responsible Official https://www.ehs.pitt.edu/lab-safety/biosafety-program

LINK: https://www.selectagents.gov/sat/index.htm

 

 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

International Movement

Oversight: all materials covered by FDA in the US are also subject to FDA import review

Examples: Medical products (drugs, vaccines, devices, and biological products)

                  Radiation emitting devices

                  Tobacco products

LINK: https://www.fda.gov/industry/import-program-food-and-drug-administration-fda/import-basics

 

 

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

International and Interstate Movement

Oversight: conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats

Examples: wild mammals, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, any non-domesticated animal material

LINK: www.fws.gov/le/businesses.html

 

 

Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 

International Movement

Oversight: International trade in specimens of endangered or threatened wild animals and plants

Examples: Endangered species and their materials (animals and plants)

Full List here: https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php

LINK: www.cites.org/eng/disc/how.php