Applicants should describe the kind of material they wish to import, 
and explain its intended use. This information is needed by the permit 
offices to determine whether the proposed importation is admissible. If 
so, permit arrangements are completed. 
Attempting to smuggle into the United States any goods covered by 
agricultural quarantines is an offense subject to fine up to $500 or im- 
prisonment not exceeding a year, or both. Smuggling--willful violation--is 
regarded seriously because of the far-reaching trouble that agricultural 
pests can start. The thoughtless violations that officials more commonly 
encounter may not be penalized, but prohibited goods may be confiscated. 
Points on Policy and Procedures 
Placing as few restrictions as possible on trade, commerce, and the 
public in general is one policy of the USDA plant and animal quarantine 
services. Restrictions are continually reviewed and modified when changes 
occur in pest and disease situations abroad, when improved ways are 
found to combat pests and diseases, or other safeguards permit. 
Ways of saving time of the public and officials alike are continually 
sought. Here are a few, some recently instituted, some long ago adopted: 
@ The supermarket system of clearing passengers’ baggage through 
exit counters was recently installed at the New York International Airport 
at Idlewild, and is proving very successful. 
@In certain cases, plant importers are provided mailing labels that 
direct parcels straight to a plant quarantine station and subsequently 
on to the destination. 
@ Quarantine facilities for treating plant materials to destroy pests 
have been expanded at New York, and the usual detention time is now a 
few hours, whereas formerly it was several days. 
@U.S. Public Health officers, who are the first to board foreign 
vessels, look out for prohibited animals and notify U.S. animal quarantine 
officers, enabling the latter to take prompt action. 
@In-transit cold treatment of certain fruit cargoes on shipboard 
kills plant pests and makes possible prompt release on arrival. 
@Stopping pests before they start--the best of all protective 
methods--is one of the basic procedures of the animal disease exclusion 
work, and is accomplished by cooperative arrangements with many 
countries. In the more complex situation of halting plant pests, one 
example of cooperation is the inspection of flower bulbs in countries where 
they are grown. Bulbs certified pest-free can be shipped direct to buyers 
in the United States. This plan was started in Holland in 1951, and has 
proved so effective that it has beenextendedto a number of other European 
countries, to speed bulb shipments in rush season. 
The need for inspection of allincoming baggage has been demonstrated. 
In 1953, the Customs Service found it necessary to restrict its inspection 
of baggage to a selective ‘‘spot-check’’ system, in order to handle the 
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