§150A-53 - General actions to achieve objectives.
    [§150A-53] General actions to achieve objectives. To achieve the objectives of the biosecurity program, the department shall plan for and, within available legislative appropriations, implement the following:
    (1) Work with government agencies and agricultural commodity exporters of other states and countries to establish pre-entry inspection programs under which inbound cargo into the State is inspected at the ports of departure or other points outside the State;
    (2) Establish, operate, or participate in operating port-of-entry facilities where multiple government agencies may inspect, quarantine, fumigate, disinfect, destroy, or exclude as appropriate, articles that may harbor pests or exclude articles that are prohibited or restricted without a permit, with the goals of:
        (A) Performing inspections in an efficient, effective, and expeditious manner for the government agencies involved and for cargo owners, carriers, and importers; and
        (B) Providing for the proper and safe storage and handling of cargo, especially agricultural and food commodities, awaiting inspection;
    (3) Develop, implement, and coordinate post-entry measures to eradicate, control, reduce, and suppress pests and, as appropriate, eradicate or seize and dispose of prohibited or restricted organisms without a permit that have entered the State;
    (4) Collaborate with relevant government agencies, agricultural commodity importers, and other persons to examine and develop joint integrated systems to better implement the biosecurity program;
    (5) Improve cargo inspection capabilities and methods, including enhancement of the content and submission requirements for cargo manifests and agricultural commodity ownership and movement certificates;
    (6) Promote the production of agricultural commodities in the State to reduce cargo shipments of imported commodities into the State; and
    (7) Provide public education on the negative effects of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms without a permit, to the environment and economy of the State. [L 2008, c 236, pt of §2]