§7713. Notification and holding requirements upon arrival
(a) Duty of Secretary of the Treasury
(1) Notification
The Secretary of the Treasury shall promptly notify the Secretary of Agriculture of the arrival of any plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, or noxious weed at a port of entry.
(2) Holding
The Secretary of the Treasury shall hold a plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, or noxious weed for which notification is made under paragraph (1) at the port of entry until the plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, or noxious weed-
(A) is inspected and authorized for entry into or transit movement through the United States; or
(B) is otherwise released by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(3) Exceptions
Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to any plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, or noxious weed that is imported from a country or region of a country designated by the Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to regulations, as exempt from the requirements of such paragraphs.
(b) Duty of responsible parties
(1) Notification
The person responsible for any plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance required to have a permit under section 7711 or 7712 of this title shall provide the notification described in paragraph (3) as soon as possible after the arrival of the plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance at a port of entry and before the plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance is moved from the port of entry.
(2) Submission
The notification shall be provided to the Secretary, or, at the Secretary's direction, to the proper official of the State to which the plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance is destined, or both, as the Secretary may prescribe.
(3) Elements of notification
The notification shall consist of the following:
(A) The name and address of the consignee.
(B) The nature and quantity of the plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance proposed to be moved.
(C) The country and locality where the plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance was grown, produced, or located.
(c) Prohibition on movement of items without authorization
No person shall move from a port of entry or interstate any imported plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance unless the imported plant, plant product, biological control organism, plant pest, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance-
(1) is inspected and authorized for entry into or transit movement through the United States; or
(2) is otherwise released by the Secretary.
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Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
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.