Pest Control Act

The Pest Control Act governs the detection, containment, and eradication of pests affecting plants and plant material, placing administration with a designated state agricultural authority working through county-level pest inspectors and a program of inspections. Its core mechanisms are quarantine and emergency powers — the authority may impose quarantines, including on pests not otherwise regulated, declare a quarantine emergency, order the emergency disposal of infested plant material, and undertake emergency control and eradication of invasive pests, backed by a right of entry to inspect property. The act further provides for cooperative and joint phytosanitary agreements, voluntary agreements to furnish pest services, delegation of duties, rulemaking, and penalties, including civil penalties, for violations such as the unlawful transport of pests.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.