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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85406</law_id><section_number>3.2-703</section_number><catch_line>Authority to quarantine</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions; Protection and Promotion of Agriculture</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">Tree and Crop Pests</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Pests</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may quarantine the Commonwealth or any portion thereof when it determines that such action is necessary to prevent or retard the spread of a <span class="dictionary">pest</span> into, within, or from the Commonwealth. Before a quarantine is adopted, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall, after due public notice, hold a public <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.), at which <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> any interested <span class="dictionary">party</span> may appear and be heard either in <span class="dictionary">person</span> or by attorney. Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemptions from chapter generally" href="/2.2-4002/">2.2-4002</a> or any other <span class="dictionary">law</span> to the contrary, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may impose a temporary quarantine for a period not to exceed 90 days. A public <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, as provided herein, shall be held if it appears that a quarantine for more than the 90-day period will be necessary to prevent or retard the spread of the <span class="dictionary">pest</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall give notice of the establishment of the quarantine in a newspaper having general circulation in the area affected by the quarantine. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may limit the application of the temporary or permanent quarantine to the <span class="dictionary">infested</span> area and appropriate environs, to be known as the regulated areas, and may without further <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> extend or reduce the regulated area upon publication of a notice to that effect in a newspaper having general circulation in the area affected by the quarantine or by direct written notice to those concerned. Any temporary quarantine imposed by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or any extensions or reductions in the regulated areas pursuant to this section shall be reviewed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> at its next regularly scheduled meeting, such review by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall be made within 90 days of the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>&#x2019;s action.
		Following establishment of a quarantine, no <span class="dictionary">person</span> shall <span class="dictionary">move</span> any <span class="dictionary">regulated article</span> described in the quarantine or <span class="dictionary">move</span> the <span class="dictionary">pest</span> against which the quarantine is established, within, from, into, or through the Commonwealth contrary to regulations.
		The regulations may restrict the movement of the <span class="dictionary">pest</span> and any <span class="dictionary">regulated articles</span> from the regulated area in the Commonwealth into or through other parts of the Commonwealth or other states and from the regulated area in other states into or through the Commonwealth and shall impose such inspection, disinfection, certification, or <span class="dictionary">permit</span> and other requirements as the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> administrative instructions relating to the enforcement of regulations including acceptable certification procedures, <span class="dictionary">regulated articles</span>, and exemptions.</p></section></text><history>1975, c. 29, &#xA7; 3.1-188.23; 1980, c. 291; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
