Pest Targeting Efforts and the Development of an Offshore Pest Information System (OPIS)

International trade is rapidly expanding and the relevance of international borders as barriers to pest movement is diminishing. As trade expands, so does the risk of accidentally or intentionally spreading exotic plant pests. The Offshore Pest Information System (OPIS) is a process designed to collect, analyze, communicate, and use relevant international information concerning pests that are not known to occur in the U.S. Using OPIS will enable USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to meet its mission. That mission is to "safeguard American resources from exotic invasive pests and diseases." By using OPIS, the Agency can quickly and effectively respond to imminent pest threats. OPIS requires information collection, synthesis, communication, and supporting research. Exotic pests of concern to the U.S. have been ranked by order of importance by numerous professional societies and other sources. These rankings allow APHIS to focus on significant pests or pathways.. Disclosure of these pests and their pathways helps U.S. trading partners to become aware of U.S. concerns, and to desire to work with those countries to keep such pests out of their countries as well. U.S. safeguarding response may be triggered by outbreaks of a pest, pesticide resistance, and loss of a pesticide or its cancellation. The OPIS consists of the following components: (i) Global Pest and Disease Database: a reference tool on pests. (ii) Target pest list—A list that is reviewed and updated periodically. (iii) Pest/Pathway status in foreign countries: monthly reports on target pests. (iv) Pest interception data from U.S. ports: information reported into the system. (v) Communication through monthly or emergency pest alerts and news releases. (vi) Initiation of protective and mitigation measures: actions by U.S. and foreign countries