The New Mexico Plant Protection Act requires that any nursery or florist stock brought into the state must be accompanied by an official copy of the certificate of inspection, signed by an agriculture official of the originating state.  This certificate is also required of any nursery or florist stock being shipped within the state.

In addition to the certificate of inspection, some products and/or areas of the country are under quarantine for pests in an attempt to prevent their spread into New Mexico.  Each of these quarantines requires treatment of the product or a declaration that the place of origin is free of the pest.  This will be in the form of a quarantine compliance certificate or phytosanitary certificate from that state’s agriculture department.   It may also be in the form of a USDA stamp which has the appearance of a shield or badge. These certificates and stamps will be located on the shipping documents and/or the shipping containers.

New Mexico Quarantines and Plowdowns: 

Cotton Boll Weevil Quarantine - There are restriction on the movement of most cotton products, and the machinery associated with growing and harvesting cotton, from areas in New Mexico and the rest of the country that have not "functionally eradicated" cotton boll weevil.

Pecan Weevil Exterior Quarantine – Pecan trees in soil from the southeastern portion of the U.S. including east Texas cannot be shipped into New Mexico. All other pecan trees must be accompanied by a certificate of origin or treatment. For specifics, contact NMDA at 575-646-3207.

Pepper Weevil Interior Quarantine and Plowdown -  Pepper processing residues can not be transported out of the regulated area.  Pepper fields in this area must be plowed down by February 1 of each year to reduce overwintering populations of pepper weevil.

Pink Bollworm Permanent Plowdown - All cotton plants in New Mexico mujst be plowed and buried by February 1 of each year to reduce overwintering populations of pink bollworm.

Red Imported Fire Ant Exterior Quarantine  - Within New Mexico the county of Dona Ana is quarantined to prevent the spread of imported fire ants.  Shipments of nursery stock,sod, soil, baled hay and straw, and soil moving equipment originating in Dona Ana County must be certified to be free of the pest.  In the case of nursery stock this is verified by the presence of a shield-shaped stamp from USDA on boxes and/or shipping documents which accompany these items.

Important Federal Quarantines and National Agreements:

Imported Fire Ant- A USDA shield-shaped stamp with the abbreviation of the originating state in the center must be present on each box or on the shipping documents.  This indicates that the plants have been treated to control the pest. It must be included with shipments from the southeastern portion of the U.S., including southeast Texas, as well as Orange County and portions of Riverside and Los Angeles Counties in California.  See map.

Japanese Beetle – All states must include a certificate that indicates the shipper’s status with regard to Japanese beetle, except for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Phytophthora ramorum – Nurseries in regulated areas in California, Oregon and Washington that ship host or associated plant nursery stock must have paperwork which carries a Federal shield to prove that they are not infested with this disease, also known as Sudden Oak Death.

Federal Noxious Weeds- Plants listed under this regulation cannot be shipped into New Mexico unless they have been specifically allowed under a permit that has been approved by NMDA.