The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where it sits within the department's Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Its work has two sides. It protects the health of animals and plants in the United States, and it supports the marketing of U.S. agricultural products in both domestic and international markets.
APHIS is an emergency response agency. Any of its employees may be assigned to temporary rotating duty in support of emergency programs at some point in their career with the agency.
The work relies on scientific and regulatory occupations. The agency employs veterinarians and animal health technicians, plant pathologists, entomologists and biologists, along with inspectors who handle plant protection and quarantine duties. As with other federal agencies, it also fills administrative, policy and support positions.