The Federal Agriculture Quarantine on Hawaii: Regulatory History, Impacts, and Opportunities for Change
from HIPA, Oct, 2026
Executive Summary
Hawaii has been subject to a federal agricultural quarantine that may cost as much as $800M annually in impacts to the state.
The quarantine is codified in a stand-alone section of the Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR 318. Key features of the quarantine include a ban on the movement of fresh fruits and vegetables, and mandatory inspection requirement for all travelers, baggage, and airplanes/ships.
The quarantine began in 1911 by the State of California due to the establishment of Mediterranean fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata) in Hawaii, and was subsequently adopted by the federal government in 1912. Its main components have largely remained in place since then.
Comparative regulatory analysis shows that Hawaii’s quarantine is unique among US states and administratively similar to the quarantine treatment of foreign countries, however the regulatory outcomes would likely be comparable if Hawaii were governed under alternative existing domestic quarantine frameworks.
There are areas for significant improvement to reduce regulatory burdens, primarily by reducing the length of time it takes for a new commodity to be approved for export, which can take 5+ years. Further, federal and state resources need to be dedicated to addressing the invasive quarantine species in Hawaii, which can address quarantine status as a whole, while reducing the risk of introducing future invasive species of concern, among other important opportunities.
Given the extent of likely impact on Hawaii, the federal quarantine should be prioritized as a fundamental economic issue of statewide concern by both local and national stakeholders.
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PBN: Hawaii's $800M agricultural quarantine blocks mainland exports - Pacific Business News – “Mahi Pono has waited two years for USDA approval to sell fruit from its 3,000 acres of Tahitian limes to the Mainland….”
CB: Federal Regulations Are Crippling Hawaiʻi Farmers, Report Says - Honolulu Civil Beat
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