Trade Pathway Terminology

Terms can have specific legal meanings in a statute or jurisdiction. The definitions below support operational records only. Use the applicable legal definition when it controls a decision.

Aquatic invasive species

An aquatic organism that is not native to an ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm. A nonnative organism is not automatically invasive, and a seller should not use the terms as synonyms.

Pathway

The activity or route through which an organism can move to a new place. Commerce pathways include listings, suppliers, packing, carriers, markets, customers, returns, disposal, water, substrate, and attached material.

Organism in commerce

A live organism, viable part, propagule, or associated material that is offered, ordered, shipped, transferred, returned, or disposed of through commercial activity.

Hitchhiker

An undeclared organism that travels with the intended item, water, sediment, plant, shell, container, or equipment.

Pathway control

A defined action that reduces the chance of movement or release. A control has an owner, trigger, record, and response when it fails.

Hold

A documented stop that prevents listing, packing, shipment, release, disposal, or transfer while identity, requirements, or instructions remain unresolved.

Traceability

The ability to connect an organism or lot to its source, listing, order, package, destination, review decision, and later action.