invasive species

Within the context of agriculture, invasive species is defined as:

Alien (non-native) species of plants, animals, and pests whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Executive Order 13112, issued February 8, 1999, seeks to prevent the introduction and minimize the impacts of invasive species through better federal agency coordination under a National Invasive Species Management Plan to be developed by an interagency Invasive Species Council. Examples of invasive species receiving recent attention include the Asian long-horned beetle, Africanized honeybees, zebra mussels, and the Formosan termite. APHIS carries out inspection and quarantine programs at U.S. ports of entry to prevent entry of invasive species. A number of laws are aimed at prevention and control, including among others the Plant Quarantine Act, the Animal Damage Control Act, the Federal Seed Act, the Federal Plant Pest Act, the Federal Noxious Weed Act, the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act, and the Alien Species Prevention and Enforcement Act.