APHIS lost the port inspection authority to the Department of Homeland
Security - Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shortly after 911. APHIS's
only port inspection authority is limited to permitted propagative material
coming in through designated plant inspect facility. CBP does of the
day-to-day inspections of agricultural commodities, solid wood packing
material etc. and it was not a very high priority for CBP until Congress
threatened to move the authority back to APHIS a couple of years ago. They
have gotten better but not great. You are correct though only about 2% gets
inspected, business won't stand for delays due to the inspection process.
So, the tax payer gets stuck with the financial and ecological consequences.
Now then the general public is not off the hook passenger baggage has been
found with items such as bug infested grape cuttings, citrus leaves from
India infested with "Citrus Greening" carrying citrus psyllids. However, if
you look at the state of the Citrus and Grape industry you will see the
non-native bugs and diseases are still getting through. Whose to say
Tracheal and Varroa mites didn't come into the U.S. on Queens or queen
attendants in some bodies coat pocket.

Mike

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