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The term “article” means any material or tangible object that could harbor plant pests or noxious weeds.

The term “biological control organism” means any enemy, antagonist, or competitor used to control a plant pest or noxious weed.

The terms “enter” and “entry” mean to move into, or the act of movement into, the commerce of the United States.

The terms “export” and “exportation” mean to move from, or the act of movement from, the United States to any place outside the United States.

The terms “import” and “importation” mean to move into, or the act of movement into, the territorial limits of the United States.

The term “interstate” means—

The term “interstate commerce” means trade, traffic, or other commerce—

The term “means of conveyance” means any personal property used for or intended for use for the movement of any other personal property.

The terms “move”, “moving”, and “movement” mean—

The term “noxious weed” means any plant or plant product that can directly or indirectly injure or cause damage to crops (including nursery stock or plant products), livestock, poultry, or other interests of agriculture, irrigation, navigation, the natural resources of the United States, the public health, or the environment.

The term “permit” means a written or oral authorization, including by electronic methods, by the Secretary to move plants, plant products, biological control organisms, plant pests, noxious weeds, or articles under conditions prescribed by the Secretary.

The term “person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, joint venture, or other legal entity.

The term “plant” means any plant (including any plant part) for or capable of propagation, including a tree, a tissue culture, a plantlet culture, pollen, a shrub, a vine, a cutting, a graft, a scion, a bud, a bulb, a root, and a seed.

The term “plant pest” means any living stage of any of the following that can directly or indirectly injure, cause damage to, or cause disease in any plant or plant product:

The term “plant product” means—

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.

The term “State” means any of the several States of the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, or any other territory or possession of the United States.

For the purposes of section 7712 (e) of this title, the term “systems approach” means a defined set of phytosanitary procedures, at least two of which have an independent effect in mitigating pest risk associated with the movement of commodities.

Except when used in this section, the term “this chapter” includes any regulation or order issued by the Secretary under the authority of this chapter.

The term “United States” means all of the States.