§ 355.1 Purpose.

Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Secretary is responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Act and Convention that pertain to the importation, exportation, or reexportation of terrestrial plants. 1 The regulations in this part are for the purpose of implementing this authority. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior that correlate with the regulations in this part are contained in 50 CFR chapter I. 2 1 Under section 11 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1540), it is unlawful for any person to knowingly violate any provision of the Act, any permit or certificate issued under the Act, or any regulation promulgated under the Act. Section 11 of the Act also provides for criminal, civil, and administrative penalties for any such violation. 2 Plant Protection and Quarantine also administers programs under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3371 through 3378), 7 U.S.C. 2814, and the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772), which authorize additional prohibitions and restrictions on the importation of plants subject to this part (see other parts of 7 CFR chapter III for regulations containing prohibitions and restrictions under these authorities).