Invasive Species and E-Commerce

Authors

Invasive Species Advisory Committee

Date of this Version

5-24-2012

Citation

Invasive Species Advisory Committee, May 24, 2012

Also available at https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/isac_ecommerce_white_paper.rev_.pdf

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

ISSUE

Internet commerce (hereafter e-commerce) is a growing and vital part of the United States economy. Total e-commerce sales in the United States for 2011 totaled $194 billion, an increase of 16% over 2010. From 2002 to 2011, the proportion of reported e-commerce sales in the U. S. grew from about 1.4% to 5.5% of total retail sales (United States Census Bureau News 2012). Globally, e-commerce is expected to increase at a rate of 13.5% annually, amounting to $1.4 trillion in yearly sales by 2015 (Enright 2011). A portion of this activity includes the sale and trade of living organisms. Unfortunately, such organisms and other organisms that they may carry can be invasive species, defined by United States Executive Order 13112 as “alien [non-native] species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” Order 13112 mandates that Federal agencies work to ensure that they do not promote e-commerce in invasive species, because the order states that these agencies should “not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species ... .” A number of government entities have jurisdiction over aspects of e-commerce. The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS) has jurisdiction over plants, livestock, and their products. The Department of Interior (DoI), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has jurisdiction over wildlife. Shipping services are overseen by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Postal Service (USPS) with jurisdiction over imports and inter- state trade (Federal government) and intrastate trade (state governments). However, e-commerce as a sector is evolving and expanding in volume at a rate that may exceed these various capacities to address the associated risks of introduction and spread of invasive species.

Recommendations to NISC Member Agencies

Relevant federal agencies need to adjust existing regulations and enforcement practices to better mitigate the risks of trade and transport of invasive species through e-commerce. Included are recommendations to enhance the collective ability to engage in e-commerce without promoting the introduction or spread of invasive and potentially invasive species.