Regulation of Importation

HRS div. 1, tit. 11, ch. 150A, pt. II

in effect

HRS §150A-5 Conditions of importation

150A-5. Conditions of importation The importation into the State of any of the following articles, viz., nursery-stock, tree, shrub, herb, vine, cut-flower, cutting, graft, scion, bud, seed, leaf, root, or rhizome; nut, fruit, or vegetable; grain, cereal, or legume in the natural or raw state; moss, hay, straw, dry-grass, or other forage; unmanufactured log, limb, or timber, or any other plant-growth or plant-product, unprocessed or in the raw state; soil; microorganisms; live bird, reptile, nematode, insect, or any other animal in any stage of development (that is in addition to the so-called domestic animal, the quarantine of which is provided for in chapter 142); box, vehicle, baggage, or any other container in which the articles have been transported or any packing material used in connection therewith shall be made in the manner hereinafter set forth: (1) Notification of arrival. Any person who receives for transport or brings or causes to be brought to the State as freight, air freight, baggage, or otherwise, for the purpose of debarkation or entry therein, or as ship's stores, any of the foregoing articles, shall, immediately upon the arrival thereof, notify the department, in writing, of the arrival, giving the waybill number, container number, name and address of the consignor, name and address of the consignee or the consignee's agent in the State, marks, number of packages, description of contents of each package, port at which laden, and any other information that may be necessary to locate or identify the same, and shall hold the articles at the pier, airport, or any other place where they are first received or discharged, in a manner that they will not spread or be likely to spread any infestation or infection of insects or diseases that may be present until inspection and examination can be made by the inspector to determine whether or not any article, or any portion thereof, is infested or infected with or contains any pest. The department may adopt rules to require identification of specific articles on negotiable and non-negotiable warehouse receipts, bills of lading, or other documents of title for inspection of pests. In addition, the department shall adopt rules to designate restricted articles that shall require: (A) A permit from the department in advance of importation; or (B) A department letter of authorization or registration in advance of importation. The restricted articles shall include but not be limited to certain microorganisms or living insects. Failure to obtain the permit, letter of authorization, or registration in advance is a violation of this section; (2) Individual passengers, officers, and crew. (A) It shall be the responsibility of the transportation company to distribute, prior to the debarkation of passengers and baggage, the State of Hawaii plant and animal declaration form in paper or electronic form to each passenger, officer, and crew member of any aircraft or vessel originating in the continental United States or its possessions or from any other area not under the jurisdiction of the appropriate federal agency in order that the passenger, officer, or crew member can comply with the directions and requirements appearing thereon. All passengers, officers, and crew members, whether or not they are bringing or causing to be brought for entry into the State the articles listed on the form, shall complete the declaration, except that one adult member of a family may complete the declaration for other family members. Any person who defaces the declaration form required under this section, gives false information, fails to declare restricted articles in the person's possession or baggage, or fails to declare in cargo manifests is in violation of this section; (B) Completed paper forms shall be collected by the transportation company and be delivered, immediately upon arrival, to the inspector at the first airport or seaport of arrival. Completed electronic forms shall be transmitted to the inspector before passengers depart the first airport or seaport of arrival. Failure to distribute or collect paper declaration forms, immediately deliver completed paper forms, or transmit completed electronic forms before passengers depart the first airport or seaport of arrival is a violation of this section; and (C) It shall be the responsibility of the officers and crew of an aircraft or vessel originating in the continental United States or its possessions or from any other area not under the jurisdiction of the appropriate federal agency to immediately report all sightings of any plants and animals to the plant quarantine branch. Failure to comply with this requirement is a violation of this section; (3) Plant and animal declaration form. The form shall include directions for declaring domestic and other animals cited in chapter 142, in addition to the articles enumerated in this chapter; (4) Labels. Each container in which any of the above-mentioned articles are imported into the State shall be plainly and legibly marked, in a conspicuous manner and place, with the name and address of the shipper or owner forwarding or shipping the same, the name or mark of the person to whom the same is forwarded or shipped or the person's agent, the name of the country, state, or territory and locality therein where the product was grown or produced, and a statement of the contents of the container. Upon failure to comply with this paragraph, the importer or carrier is in violation of this section; (5) Authority to inspect. Whenever the inspector has good cause to believe that the provisions of this chapter are being violated, the inspector may: (A) Enter and inspect any aircraft, vessel, or other carrier at any time after its arrival within the boundaries of the State, whether offshore, at the pier, or at the airport, for the purpose of determining whether any of the articles or pests enumerated in this chapter or rules adopted thereto, is present; (B) Enter into or upon any pier, warehouse, airport, or any other place in the State where any of the above-mentioned articles are moved or stored, for the purpose of ascertaining, by inspection and examination, whether or not any of the articles is infested or infected with any pest or disease or contaminated with soil or contains prohibited plants or animals; and (C) Inspect any baggage or personal effects of disembarking passengers, officers, and crew members on aircraft or vessels arriving in the State to ascertain if they contain any of the articles or pests enumerated in this chapter. No baggage or other personal effects of the passengers or crew members shall be released until the baggage or effects have been passed. Baggage or cargo inspection shall be made at the discretion of the inspector, on the pier, vessel, or aircraft or in any quarantine or inspection area. Whenever the inspector has good cause to believe that the provisions of this chapter are being violated, the inspector may require that any box, package, suitcase, or any other container carried as ship's stores, cargo, or otherwise by any vessel or aircraft moving between the continental United States and Hawaii or between the Hawaiian Islands, be opened for inspection to determine whether any article or pest prohibited by this chapter or by rules adopted pursuant thereto is present. It is a violation of this section if any prohibited article or any pest or any plant, fruit, or vegetable infested with plant pests is found; (6) Request for importation and inspection. In addition to requirements of the United States customs authorities concerning invoices or other formalities incident to importations into the State, the importer shall be required to file a written statement with the department, signed by the importer or the importer's agent, setting forth the importer's desire to import certain of the above-mentioned articles into the State and: (A) Giving the following additional information: (i) The kind (scientific name), quantity, and description; (ii) The locality where same were grown or produced; (iii) Certification that all animals to be imported are the progeny of captive populations or have been held in captivity for a period of one year immediately before importation or have been specifically approved for importation by the board; (iv) The port from which the same were last shipped; (v) The name of the shipper; and (vi) The name of the consignee; and (B) Containing: (i) A request that the department, by its duly authorized agent, examine the articles described; (ii) An agreement by the importer to be responsible for all costs, charges, or expenses; and (iii) A waiver of all claims for damages incident to the inspection or the fumigation, disinfection, quarantine, or destruction of the articles, or any of them, as hereinafter provided, if any treatment is deemed necessary. Failure or refusal to file a statement, including the agreement and waiver, is a violation of this section and may, in the discretion of the department, be sufficient cause for refusing to permit the entry of the articles into the State; (7) Place of inspection. If, in the judgment of the inspector, it is deemed necessary or advisable to move any of the above-mentioned articles, or any portion thereof, to a place more suitable for inspection than the pier, airport, or any other place where they are first received or discharged, the inspector is authorized to do so. All costs and expenses incident to the movement and transportation of the articles to any other place shall be borne by the importer or the importer's agent. If the importer, importer's agent, or transportation company requests inspection of sealed containers of the above-mentioned articles at locations other than where the articles are first received or discharged and the department determines that inspection at the other place is appropriate, the department may require payment of costs necessitated by these inspections, including overtime costs; (8) Disinfection or quarantine. If, upon inspection, any article received or brought into the State for the purpose of debarkation or entry therein is found to be infested or infected or there is reasonable cause to presume that it is infested or infected and the infestation or infection can, in the judgment of the inspector, be eradicated, a treatment shall be given such article. The treatment shall be at the expense of the owner or the owner's agent, and the treatment shall be as prescribed by the department. The article shall be held in quarantine at the expense of the owner or the owner's agent at a satisfactory place approved by the department for a sufficient length of time to determine that eradication has been accomplished. If the infestation or infection is of the nature or extent that it cannot be effectively and completely eradicated, or if it is a potentially destructive pest or it is not widespread in the State, or after treatment it is determined that the infestation or infection is not completely eradicated, or if the owner or the owner's agent refuses to allow the article to be treated or to be responsible for the cost of treatment and quarantine, the article, or any portion thereof, together with all packing and containers, may, at the discretion of the inspector, be destroyed or sent out of the State at the expense of the owner or the owner's agent. The destruction or exclusion shall not be made the basis of a claim against the department or the inspector for damage or loss incurred; (9) Disposition. Upon completion of inspection, either at the time of arrival or at any time thereafter should any article be held for inspection, treatment, or quarantine, the inspector shall affix to the article or the container or to the delivery order in a conspicuous place thereon, a tag, label, or stamp to indicate that the article has been inspected and passed. This action shall constitute a permit to bring the article into the State; and (10) Ports of entry. None of the articles mentioned in this section shall be allowed entry into the State except through the airports and seaports in the State designated and approved by the board. [L 1973, c 69, pt of §1; am L 1974, c 232, §1; am L 1977, c 114, §2; am L 1980, c 265, §2; am L 1985, c 133, §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1990, c 243, §2; am L 1992, c 229, §3; am L 2000, c 211, §3; am L 2005, c 64, §2; am L 2024, c 196, §1]

HRS §150A-5.3 Inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge

150A-5.3. Inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge (a) There is imposed a fee for the inspection, quarantine, and eradication of invasive species contained in any freight, including marine commercial container shipment, air freight, or any other means of transporting freight, foreign or domestic, but not including aggregate bulk freight, cement bulk freight, coal bulk freight, or liquid bulk freight, that is brought into the State. The transportation company shall bill the fee to the person responsible for paying the freight charges to the transportation company within fifteen days of the delivery of the freight. The fee shall be paid by the person responsible for paying the freight charges to the transportation company within forty-five days of receipt of the bill. The transportation company shall collect the fee from the person responsible and forward the payment to the department at the port of disembarkation within forty-five days of receipt of the fee; provided that the transportation company shall not be liable for any fee that is not paid by the person responsible for paying the freight charges to the transportation company. The department shall deposit the fee into the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund under section 150A-4.5. (b) The fee shall be assessed and collected on the net weight of the imported freight computed on the basis of 75 cents for every one thousand pounds of freight, or part thereof, brought into the State. [L Sp 2007, c 9, pt of §1; am L 2008, c 16, §4; am L Sp 2008, c 3, §3; am L 2010, c 173, §5; am L 2011, c 36, §1]

HRS §150A-5.4 Failure to pay or remit the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee; fines

150A-5.4. Failure to pay or remit the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee; fines (a) The following fines shall be imposed for failure to pay, bill, or remit the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee as provided for in section 150A-5.3: (1) A person responsible for paying the freight charges to the transportation company who fails to pay the fee; or (2) A transportation company that fails to: (A) Bill the fee, within fifteen days of the delivery of the freight, to the person responsible for paying the freight charges to the transportation company; or (B) Remit the fee to the department within forty-five days of collecting the fee from the person responsible for paying the freight charges to the transportation company, shall pay a fine of two times the amount of the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee or $50, whichever is higher. (b) All fines shall be paid to the department and deposited into the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund under section 150A-4.5. [L 2010, c 173, §2]

HRS §150A-5.5 What constitutes importation

150A-5.5. What constitutes importation (a) The landing of any article for the purpose of inspection or quarantine shall not be construed to give the article any status or the owner any right incident to articles which have actually been passed and allowed into the State. (b) In legal effect, articles landed for the purpose of inspection or quarantine shall be construed to be still outside the State seeking entry, and shall not, in whole or in part, be considered suitable for entry into the State unless a tag, label, or stamp has been affixed to the article, its container, or its delivery order by the inspector as provided in section 150A-5(9), except that articles quarantined in the biocontrol containment facilities of the department or of other government agencies engaged in joint projects with the department may be released upon issuance of a permit approved by the board. (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the import of articles in violation of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter may subject the importer to penalty although the articles have not been passed for entry. [L 1985, c 133, §4; am L 1990, c 243, §3; am L 1996, c 153, §3]

HRS §150A-5.6 Exceptions to the right to import

150A-5.6. Exceptions to the right to import Nothing in this chapter shall permit the importation of any animal or article if the same, or any of them, has, by rule of the department been prohibited. L 1985, c 133, §5

HRS §150A-6 Soil, plants, animals, etc., importation or possession prohibited

150A-6. Soil, plants, animals, etc., importation or possession prohibited No person shall transport, receive for transport, or cause to be transported to the State, for the purpose of debarkation or entry thereinto, any of the following: (1) Soil; provided that limited quantities of soil may be imported into the State for experimental or other scientific purposes under permit with conditions prescribed by the department; (2) Rocks, plants, plant products, or any article with soil adhering thereto; (3) Any live snake, flying fox, fruit bat, Gila monster, injurious insect, or eels of the order Anguilliformes, or any other animal, plant, or microorganism in any stage of development that is detrimental or potentially harmful to agriculture, horticulture, animal or public health, or natural resources, including native biota, or has an adverse effect on the environment as determined by the board, except, as provided in this chapter and provided that, notwithstanding the list of animals prohibited entry into the State, the department may bring into and maintain in the State four live, sterile brown tree snakes of the male sex for the purpose of research or training of snake detector dogs, and, further, that a government agency may bring into and maintain in the State not more than two live, nonvenomous snakes of the male sex solely for the purpose of exhibition in a government zoo, but only after: (A) The board is presented with satisfactory evidence that the sex of the snakes was established to be male prior to the shipment; and (B) The board gives written approval conditioned upon such terms as the board may deem necessary, which terms shall include measures to assure the prevention of escape, continuing supervision and control by the board with respect to any department import under this paragraph, and the manner in which the snakes shall be disposed of or destroyed. In case of the death of one or more snakes, the department or government agency may import and maintain replacements subject to the conditions described in this paragraph; and (4) Any live or dead honey bees, or used bee equipment that is not certified by the department to be free of pests; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the importation of bee semen. [L 1973, c 69, pt of §1; am L 1974, c 232, §2; am L 1985, c 133, §2 and c 179, §2; am L 1990, c 243, §4; am L 1994, c 48, §1; am L 1996, c 153, §4; am L 1997, c 63, §2; am L 1998, c 10, §1, c 28, §1, and c 244, §1; am L 1999, c 21, §1 and c 177, §3; am L 2000, c 211, §4; am L 2003, c 10, §1]

HRS §150A-6.1 Plant import

150A-6.1. Plant import (a) The board shall maintain a list of restricted plants that require a permit for entry into the State. Restricted plants or any portion thereof shall not be imported into the State without a permit issued pursuant to rules. (b) The department shall designate, by rule, as restricted plants, specific plants that may be detrimental or potentially harmful to agriculture, horticulture, the environment, or animal or public health, or that spread or may be likely to spread an infestation or infection of an insect, pest, or disease that is detrimental or potentially harmful to agriculture, horticulture, the environment, or animal or public health. In addition, plant species designated by rule as noxious weeds are designated as restricted plants. (c) The department may regulate or prohibit the sale of specific plants on the list of restricted plants by rule. (d) Noxious weeds may be imported only for research, by permit, and shall not be offered for sale or sold in the State. (e) No person shall import, offer for sale, or sell within the State any plant or propagative portion of Salvinia molesta or Salvinia minima and Pistia stratiotes. [L 2000, c 211, pt of §1; am L 2003, c 85, §9; am L 2004, c 10, §16; am L 2008, c 40, §2]

HRS §150A-6.2 Animal import

150A-6.2. Animal import (a) The board shall maintain: (1) A list of conditionally approved animals that require a permit for import into the State; (2) A list of restricted animals that require a permit for both import into the State and possession; and (3) A list of animals that are prohibited entry into the State. (b) The board shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to establish an advisory committee of no fewer than three members with applicable expertise in vertebrate biology to identify whether an animal is a prohibited hybrid animal when the department suspects that the lineage of the animal is not as stated by the owner or on other official documents. (c) Animals on the lists of conditionally approved and restricted animals shall be imported only by permit. Any animal that is not on the lists of conditionally approved, restricted, or prohibited animals shall be prohibited until the board's review and determination for placement on one of these lists; provided that the department may issue a special permit on a case-by-case basis for the importation and possession of an animal that is not on the lists of prohibited, restricted, or conditionally approved animals, for the purpose of remediating medical emergencies or agricultural or ecological disasters, or conducting medical or scientific research in a manner that the animal will not be detrimental to agriculture, the environment, or humans, if the importer of the animal can meet permit requirements as determined by the board; and provided further that the department may issue a short-term special permit on a case-by-case basis not to exceed ninety days for the importation and possession of an animal that is not on the lists of prohibited, restricted, or conditionally approved animals for the purpose of filming, performance, or exhibition, if the importer of the animal can meet permit and bonding requirements as determined by the board. [L 2000, c 211, pt of §1]

HRS §150A-6.3 Microorganism import

150A-6.3. Microorganism import (a) The board shall maintain: (1) A list of nonrestricted microorganisms allowed entry into the State without a permit; (2) A list of restricted microorganisms that require a permit for import into the State and possession; and (3) A list of microorganisms that are select human pathogens allowed entry into the State without a permit but that require the department to notify the department of health of entry for the purpose of possible department of health inspection and monitoring. Import of a microorganism on these lists, as well as import of any unlisted microorganism, shall be subject to the notification, labeling, and inspection requirements of section 150A-5, and is allowed only as provided herein. (b) Import of a microorganism on the restricted list of microorganisms shall be by permit issued pursuant to rules and subject to conditions established by rules; provided that, if the department in its discretion determines that import of a microorganism on the restricted list or the microorganism's proposed use presents a high risk to agriculture, horticulture, the environment, or animal or public health, the import request shall be subject to advisory committee review and board approval, including a determination that the importer is able to comply with conditions established by the board, before a permit may be issued. (c) Import and possession of an unlisted microorganism may be allowed based on the department's determination of the level of risk presented by the import, including its proposed use, to agriculture, horticulture, the environment, or animal or public health. Import shall be either by letter of authorization or special permit issued by the department, without advisory committee review or board approval, or, alternatively, by special permit issued by the department subsequent to advisory committee review and board approval, according to risk level as provided by rule; provided that in the latter instance the importer is able to comply with conditions established by the board. (d) The department may issue an emergency permit on a case-by-case basis to a state or federal agency or state university to allow import and possession of a microorganism on the list of restricted microorganisms or an unlisted microorganism for the purpose of remediating any emergency or disaster affecting agriculture, horticulture, the environment, animal or public health, or for emergency preparedness; provided that: (1) The board, without advisory committee review, first obtains advice from qualified persons with relevant expertise; (2) The board determines that import in less time than is required for issuance of a special permit under subsections (b) and (c) as applicable, is necessary to remediate the emergency or disaster; and (3) The importer is able to meet conditions established by the board. (e) Microbial products may be imported as follows: (1) Microbial products containing certain strains of microorganisms on the nonrestricted list of microorganisms, as identified by rule, may enter the State without a permit but shall not be imported without a registration issued pursuant to rules. Import of an unregistered microbial product required to be registered with the department is a violation of this section; and (2) Import of microbial products other than those products required to be registered pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be by permit or letter of authorization, as provided in subsections (b) and (c) as applicable. (f) The requirements of this section other than the notification, labeling, and inspection requirements of section 150A-5 shall not apply to import of microorganisms by the following: (1) The state department of health or Tripler Army Medical Center for their laboratories; provided that the department of health shall develop and implement within its laboratories a mechanism for coordinated oversight and inventory control of microorganisms imported for its laboratories and implement internal procedures to assure proper biosafety containment and laboratory practices commensurate with microorganism risk levels; and (2) A laboratory certified under the Clinical Laboratories Improvement Amendments of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 263 et seq.); provided that the certified laboratory is registered with the department pursuant to rules and imports microorganisms that are applicable to the category of examinations or procedures for which the foregoing certification was approved. The department of health and Tripler Army Medical Center may transfer any such imported microorganisms between their respective laboratories without approval from the department of agriculture, but with notification to the department of agriculture prior to the transfer; provided that transfer of such imported microorganisms from the department of health, Tripler Army Medical Center, or a laboratory certified and registered as described in paragraph (2) to other entities in the State shall require prior approval from the department of agriculture in the form of a letter of authorization or a permit for possession. (g) The board may amend conditions in permits, letters of authorization, and registrations, or cancel permits, letters of authorization, and registrations, as necessary, if the board determines that the classification of the microorganism being imported or the conditions attendant to the microorganism's import and use must be changed due to newly discovered risks to agriculture, horticulture, the environment, or animal or public health. [L 2000, c 211, pt of §1; am L 2002, c 61, §2; am L 2003, c 12, §1]

HRS §150A-6.4 Permit and other import document issuance; requirements

150A-6.4. Permit and other import document issuance; requirements Except as otherwise provided in this part, all permits, letters of authorization, or registrations referenced in sections 150A-6 through 150A-6.3 shall be issued pursuant to rules. Any violation of conditions listed on the permits, letters of authorization, or registrations shall be a violation of this chapter. [L 2000, c 211, pt of §1; am L 2002, c 61, §3]

HRS §150A-6.5 Animals; prohibition against possession, etc.; exception

150A-6.5. Animals; prohibition against possession, etc.; exception No person shall possess, propagate, sell, transfer, or harbor any animal included on the list of prohibited animals maintained by the board, except upon a determination that the species: (1) Was initially permitted entry and later prohibited entry into the State; or (2) Was continually prohibited but unlawfully introduced and is currently established in the State; and (3) Is not significantly harmful to agriculture, horticulture, or animal or public health, and the environment. Under the circumstances described in this [section], the board may permit possession of the individual animal through its registration with the department while still prohibiting the same species of animal from importation, propagation, transfer, and sale. [L 2000, c 211, pt of §1]

HRS §150A-6.6 Import lists amendment

150A-6.6. Import lists amendment Without regard to the notice and public hearing requirements of chapter 91, the board may adopt rules to make additions to or deletions from the lists required to be maintained in sections 150A-6.1 through 150A-6.3; provided that the board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to establish methods to obtain public input and notify the public of additions to or deletions from the lists required under sections 150A-6.1 through 150A-6.3. [L 2000, c 211, pt of §1]

HRS §150A-7 Disposition

150A-7. Disposition (a) It is a violation of sections 150A-5 and 150A-6 to bring into the State contrary to those sections any plant, plant product, animal, microorganism, or any article infested with pests or contaminated with soil and the same shall be refused admittance and may, in the discretion of the inspector, be seized and treated, destroyed, or excluded at the expense of the owner or the owner's agent. (b) It is a violation of this part to bring to or possess in the State any living creature that is prohibited or restricted, without a permit issued by the department, except as expressly provided in this part. The creature shall constitute contraband and shall be seized immediately upon discovery, whenever found, and be destroyed, donated to a government zoo, or sent out of the State, at the discretion of the department. Any expense or loss in connection therewith shall be borne by the owner or the owner's agent. (c) Whenever any living creature introduced or admitted under rules of the department escapes, or is found to be free from confinement, the department may confiscate or capture it and any progeny at the expense of the owner. The department may destroy the creature, donate it to a government zoo, or send it out of the State after five days at the discretion of the department. Any expense or loss in connection therewith shall be borne by the owner or the owner's agent. [L 1973, c 69, pt of §1; am L 1985, c 133, §3; am L 1990, c 243, §5; am L 1992, c 229, §4; am L 1998, c 10, §2; am L 1999, c 177, §4; am L 2000, c 211, §5]

HRS §150A-7.5 User fees

150A-7.5. User fees Fees may be assessed for the processing and issuance of permits issued by the department under this part, for inspections related to permit conditions, and for the registration of microbial products containing certain strains of microorganisms, as established by rule. [L 1996, c 153, §1; am L 1999, c 177, §5; am L 2000, c 211, §6]

HRS §150A-7.6 Processing fees for importation and possession requests

150A-7.6. Processing fees for importation and possession requests (a) There is imposed a fee for the processing of requests for the importation or possession of plants, animals, or soil that require a permit, or for the importation or possession of microorganisms that require a permit, letter of authorization, or registration under this chapter. The fee shall be paid in full at the time the request is submitted. (b) The fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the pest inspection, quarantine, and eradication fund established under section 150A-4.5. (c) The fees to process requests for importation and possession shall be as follows: (1) $20 for a permit for a single shipment of restricted plants; (2) $100 for a permit for unlimited number of shipments of restricted plants, as provided by permit, occurring within one year of the date of issuance; (3) $20 for a permit for a single shipment of conditionally approved animals; (4) $100 for a permit for up to an unlimited number of shipments of conditionally approved animals, as provided by permit, occurring within one year of the date of issuance; (5) $50 for a permit for a single shipment of restricted animals that require permits for both importation and possession; (6) $200 for a permit for up to an unlimited number of shipments of restricted animals that require permits for importation and possession, as provided by permit, occurring within one year of the date of issuance; (7) $100 for a special permit for an unlisted animal in an emergency or disaster situation or for conducting medical or scientific research; (8) $500 for a short-term special permit for an unlisted animal for a film production, performance, or exhibition; (9) $2500 for a permit for plants, animals, or microorganisms that require a rule amendment to change a listing maintained by the board pursuant to section 150A-6.1, 150A-6.2, or 150A-6.3, to allow importation or possession of the organism or to otherwise accommodate the request for import or possession; (10) $150 for a permit for a single shipment of listed or unlisted microorganisms that require permits for importation and possession; (11) $500 for a permit for up to an unlimited number of shipments of listed or unlisted microorganisms that require a permit for importation or possession, as provided by permit, occurring within one year of the date of issuance or within a specified calendar year; (12) $50 for a letter of authorization for import of unlisted microorganisms; (13) $100 for an emergency permit of an unlisted microorganism or a microorganism on the list of restricted microorganisms in an emergency or disaster situation; (14) $150 for registration to import a microbial product; and (15) $150 for registration of a laboratory described in section 150A-6.3(f)(2). (d) In addition to any fee under subsection (c), a fee of $250 shall be charged for the expedited processing of a permit, letter of authorization, or registration application. Expedited processing shall take no more than thirty days and shall not be available for a permit for importation or possession of plants, animals, or microorganisms that require: (1) An amendment to rules to change the listing of the organism; (2) Board approval; or (3) Review as to the requirements of chapter 343. [L 2010, c 172, §2]

HRS §150A-8 Transporting in State

150A-8. Transporting in State (a) Flora and fauna specified by rules and regulations of the department shall not be moved from one island to another island within the State or from one locality to another on the same island except by a permit issued by the department. (b) The movement between the islands of the State of the following articles, viz., nursery-stock, tree, shrub, herb, vine, cut-flower, cut-foliage, cutting, graft, scion, bud, seed, leaf, root, or rhizome; nut, fruit, or vegetable; grain, cereal, or legume in the natural or raw state; moss, hay, straw, dry-grass, or other forage; unmanufactured log, limb, or timber, or any other plant-growth or plant-product, unprocessed or in the raw state; soil; microorganisms; live bird, reptile, nematode, insect, or any other animal in any stage of development (that is in addition to the so-called domestic animal, the quarantine of which is provided for in chapter 142); box, vehicle, baggage, or any other container in which the articles have been transported or any packing material used in connection therewith shall be made in the manner hereinafter set forth: (1) Inspectional requirements. Any person who receives for transport, or brings or causes movement between the islands of the State, as freight, air freight, baggage, as ship's stores, or otherwise, any of the foregoing articles, shall ensure that the articles comply with inspectional requirements pursuant to rules and shall provide upon the inspector's request the waybill number, container number, name and address of the consignor, name and address of the consignee or the consignee's agent, marks, number of packages, description of contents of each package, and any other information that may be necessary to inspect, locate, or identify the same. If the articles are not inspected pursuant to rules, the articles shall be held in a manner that they will not spread or be likely to spread any infestation or infection of insects, diseases, or pests that may be present until an inspection can be made by the inspector to determine whether any article, or any portion thereof, is infested or infected with insects or diseases, or contains any pest. The department may adopt rules to define inspectional requirements of specific articles. Failure to obtain certification that the articles have met the inspectional requirements prior to movement between the islands of the State is a violation of this section; (2) Labels. Each container in which any of the above-mentioned articles are transported between the islands of the State shall be plainly and legibly marked, in a conspicuous manner and place, with the name and address of the shipper or owner forwarding or shipping the same, the name or mark of the person to whom the same is forwarded or shipped or the person's agent, and a statement of the contents of the container. Failure to comply with this paragraph is a violation of this section; (3) Authority to inspect. Whenever the inspector has good cause to believe that the provisions of this chapter are being violated, the inspector shall: (A) Enter and inspect any aircraft, vessel, or other carrier at any time whether offshore, at the pier, or at the airport, for the purpose of determining whether any of the articles or pests enumerated in this chapter or rules adopted thereto, is present; (B) Enter into or upon any pier, warehouse, airport, or any other place in the State where any of the above-mentioned articles are moved or stored, for the purpose of ascertaining, by inspection and examination, whether or not any of the articles is infested or infected with any pest or disease or contaminated with soil or contains prohibited plants or animals; (C) Inspect any baggage or personal effects of passengers, officers, and crew members on aircraft or vessels moving between the islands of the State to ascertain if they contain any of the articles or pests enumerated in this chapter; (D) Baggage or cargo inspection shall be made at the discretion of the inspector, on the pier, vessel, or aircraft or in any quarantine or inspection area; and (E) Whenever the inspector has good cause to believe that the provisions of this chapter are being violated, the inspector shall require that any box, package, suitcase, or any other container carried as ship's stores, cargo, or otherwise by any vessel or aircraft moving between the islands of the State, be opened for inspection to determine whether any article or pest prohibited by this chapter or by rules adopted pursuant thereto is present. It is a violation of this section if any prohibited article, pest, or any article infested with an insect or disease is found; (4) Place of inspection. The inspector shall make a determination whether it is necessary or advisable to move any of the above-mentioned articles, or any portion thereof, to a place more suitable for inspection than the pier, airport, or any other place where they are initially presented for inspection. All costs and expenses incident to the movement and transportation of the articles to such place shall be borne by the consignee or the consignee's agent; (5) Disinfection or quarantine. If, upon inspection, any article intended for movement between the islands of the State is found to be infested or infected with an insect, disease, or pest, or there is reasonable cause to presume that it is infested or infected and the infestation or infection can, in the judgment of the inspector, be eradicated, a treatment shall be given such article prior to movement between the islands of the State. The treatment shall be at the expense of the owner or the owner's agent, and the treatment shall be as prescribed by the department. The article shall be quarantined at the expense of the owner or the owner's agent at a satisfactory place approved by the department for a sufficient length of time to determine that eradication has been accomplished. If the infestation or infection is of such nature or extent that it cannot be effectively and completely eradicated, or after treatment it is determined that the infestation or infection is not completely eradicated, or if the owner or the owner's agent refuses to allow the article to be treated or to be responsible for the cost of treatment and quarantine, the shipment, article, or any portion thereof, together with all packing and containers, shall not be certified for movement between the islands of the State. An article infested or infected with an insect, disease, or pest that is not widespread in the State shall be destroyed at the expense of the owner or the owner's agent; provided that no treatment exists that would eradicate the insect, disease, or pest to the satisfaction of the department. Such destruction shall not be made the basis of a claim against the department or the inspector for damage or loss incurred; and (6) Disposition. Upon completion of inspection, the inspector shall conspicuously affix to the article, container, or to the delivery order or other similar document, a tag, label, or stamp to indicate that the article has been inspected and can be moved between the islands of the State. [L 1973, c 69, pt of §1; am L 1974, c 232, §3; am L 1977, c 114, §3; am L 2025, c 236, §30]

HRS §150A-9 Rules and regulations

150A-9. Rules and regulations The department shall have the authority to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this chapter by rules and regulations. L 1973, c 69, pt of §1

HRS §150A-9.5 Interim rules

150A-9.5. Interim rules (a) The department shall have the power, subject to the provisions of this section, to establish, implement, and enforce interim rules governing the transporting of flora and fauna into and within the State. Such rules shall not be subject to chapter 91. (b) An interim rule may be adopted in the event that the importation or movement of any flora or fauna, in the absence of effective rules, creates a situation dangerous to the public health and safety or to the ecological health of flora or fauna present in the State which is so immediate in nature as to constitute an emergency. No interim rule shall be adopted without such a finding by the advisory committee on plants and animals created under section 150A-10. (c) Interim rules adopted by the department pursuant to this section shall be effective as stated by such rules; provided that: (1) Any interim rule shall be published at least once statewide within twelve days of issuance; and (2) No interim rule shall be effective for more than one year. (d) Any person may appeal the reasonableness of any interim rule or determination of the advisory committee to the circuit court. [L 1977, c 114, §1; am L 1999, c 177, §6; am L 2000, c 211, §7; am L 2003, c 85, §10; am L 2004, c 10, §16]

HRS §150A-10 Advisory committee on plants and animals

150A-10. Advisory committee on plants and animals There shall be an advisory committee on plants and animals composed of the chairperson of the board or the chairperson's representative who shall be chairperson of the committee, the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources, the director of the office of planning and sustainable development, and the director of health, or their designees, and five other members, with expertise in plants, animals, or microorganisms, and who, by virtue of their vocation or avocation, also are thoroughly conversant with modern ecological principles and the variety of problems involved in the adequate protection of the State's natural resources. The latter five members shall be chosen by the chairperson. The committee shall advise and assist the department in developing or revising laws and regulations to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this chapter and in advising the department in problems relating to the introduction, confinement, or release of plants, animals, and microorganisms. The chairperson may create ad hoc or permanent subcommittees, as needed. [L 1973, c 69, pt of §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1990, c 243, §6; gen ch 1993; am L 2021, c 152, §5 and c 153, §9]

HRS §150A-11 Enforcement

150A-11. Enforcement Inspectors shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and related rules promulgated by the department. Inspectors shall be provided with suitable badges or insignia of office by the department, and shall have power to serve and execute warrants in all matters relating to the quarantine laws, to issue a citation for any violation of this chapter and related rules, and to seize contraband articles throughout the State. [L 1985, c 133, §6]

HRS §150A-11.5 Entry of private property for enforcement

150A-11.5. Entry of private property for enforcement Whenever any member of the department of agriculture deems it necessary for the protection of animal or public health, agriculture, or the environment, to enter any land, building, vessel or aircraft for the purpose of seizing, capturing, confiscating or removing any living creature that is prohibited or restricted and without a permit, the member may make complaint to the district judge in whose circuit the alleged violation is occurring, and the district judge may thereupon issue a warrant, directed to any police officer of the circuit, commanding the police officer to take sufficient aid, and being accompanied by the member of the department, to go to the place described in the complaint, and to seize, capture, confiscate or remove, under directions of the member, the prohibited or restricted creature. [L 1992, c 229, §2]

HRS §150A-12 Citation and summons

150A-12. Citation and summons There shall be printed a form of citation and summons for use in citing violators warning the person to appear and answer the charge against the person at a certain place and at a time within seven days after the citation. The citation and summons shall be so designed to include all necessary information to make it valid and legal within the laws and rules of the State. The form and contents of such citation and summons shall be adopted or prescribed by the district courts. In every case when a citation and summons is issued, the original of the same shall be given to the accused; provided that the district courts may prescribe the issuance to the accused of a carbon copy of the citation and summons and provide for the disposition of the original and any other copies. Every citation and summons shall be consecutively numbered and each carbon copy shall bear the number of its original. [L 1985, c 133, §7]

HRS §150A-13 Administration of oath

150A-13. Administration of oath When a complaint is made to any prosecuting officer of the violation of the provisions of this chapter or the rules promulgated and adopted pursuant thereto, the inspector who issued the citation and summons shall subscribe to the complaint under oath. [L 1985, c 133, §8]

HRS §150A-14 Penalty

150A-14. Penalty (a) Any person who violates any provision of this chapter other than sections 150A-5, 150A-6(3), and 150A-6(4) or who violates any rule adopted under this chapter other than those rules involving an animal that is prohibited or a plant, animal, or microorganism that is restricted, without a permit, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than $100. The provisions of section 706-640 notwithstanding, the maximum fine shall be $10,000. For a second offense committed within five years of a prior offense, the person or organization shall be fined not less than $500 and not more than $25,000. (b) Any person who violates section 150A-5 shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and fined not less than $50 and not more than $5,000. For a second offense committed within five years of a prior offense, the person may be fined not less than $250 and not more than $15,000. (c) Any person who: (1) Violates section 150A-6(3) or 150A-6(4), or owns or intentionally transports, possesses, harbors, transfers, or causes the importation of any snake or other prohibited animal seized under section 150A-7(b), or whose violation involves an animal that is prohibited or a plant, animal, or microorganism that is restricted, without a permit, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not less than $5,000, but not more than $20,000; (2) Intentionally transports, harbors, or imports with the intent to propagate, sell, or release any animal that is prohibited or any plant, animal, or microorganism that is restricted, without a permit, shall be guilty of a class C felony and subject to a fine of not less than $50,000, but not more than $200,000; or (3) Intentionally imports, possesses, harbors, transfers, or transports, including through interisland or intraisland movement, with the intent to propagate, sell, or release, any pest designated by statute or rule, unless otherwise allowed by law, shall be guilty of a class C felony and subject to a fine of not less than $50,000, but not more than $200,000. (d) Whenever a court sentences a person or organization pursuant to subsection (a) or (c) for an offense which has resulted in the escape or establishment of any pest and caused the department to initiate a program to capture, control, or eradicate that pest, the court shall also require that the person or organization pay to the state general fund an amount of money to be determined in the discretion of the court upon advice of the department, based upon the cost of the development and implementation of the program. (e) The department may, at its discretion, refuse entry, confiscate, or destroy any prohibited articles or restricted articles that are brought into the State without a permit issued by the department, or order the return of any plant, fruit, vegetable, or any other article infested with pests to its place of origin or otherwise dispose of it or such part thereof as may be necessary to comply with this chapter. Any expense or loss in connection therewith shall be borne by the owner or the owner's agent. (f) Any person or organization that voluntarily surrenders any prohibited animal or any restricted plant, animal, or microorganism without a permit issued by the department, prior to the initiation of any seizure action by the department, shall be exempt from the penalties of this section. (g) For purposes of this section, "intent to propagate" shall be presumed when the person in question is found to possess, transport, harbor, or import: (1) Any two or more animal specimens of the opposite sex that are prohibited or restricted, without a permit, or are a pest designated by statute or rule; (2) Any three or more animal specimens of either sex that are prohibited or restricted, without a permit, or are a pest designated by statute or rule; (3) Any plant or microorganism having the inherent capability to reproduce and that is restricted, without a permit; or (4) Any specimen that is in the process of reproduction. [L 1985, c 133, §9; am L 1990, c 243, §7; am L 1991, c 104, §2; am L 1992, c 229, §5; am L 1998, c 222, §1; am L 2000, c 211, §§8 to 10; am L 2008, c 101, §2; am L 2010, c 128, §2]

HRS §150A-15 Failure to obey summons

150A-15. Failure to obey summons Any person who fails to appear at the place and time specified in the citation and summons issued to that person by the inspector upon the person's citation for violation of the quarantine laws or rules shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. If any person fails to comply with a citation and summons issued to the person, the inspector shall cause a complaint to be entered against the person and secure the issuance of a warrant for that person's arrest. When a complaint is made to any prosecuting officer of the violation of any quarantine law or any rule promulgated thereunder, the inspector who issued the complaint and summons shall subscribe to it under oath. [L 1985, c 133, §10; gen ch 1985]

Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0150A/HRS_0150A-.htmFetched: 11/10/2026