laws & regulations

In the United States and Canada, the main species of snails used as “escargot” (which simply means “snail” in French) are classified as invasive and non-indigenous. Because of this, they are considered plant pests by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the various agencies in each state tasked with controlling or regulating invasive species.

What does this mean for those hoping to farm snails? Quite a bit in terms of both acquiring stock, propagation, and sales. The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 330 states:

“No person shall knowingly move any plant pest into or through the United States from any place outside thereof, or interstate, or knowingly accept delivery of any plant pest so moving unless such movement is authorized under permit under this part and is made in accordance with the conditions therein and the provisions in this part. “

As this states, any movement of plant pests, in this case the federally designated snail species outlined, cannot be moved live from state-to-state. This also includes the eggs of those species. In addition, individual states have rules that pertain to receiving and containing snails from out of state. Some even require permits – or ban altogether – the live collection of snails within state boundaries.

It is highly advised that you read the CFR Section 330 prior to beginning. It will save you time, money, and a lot of potential legal trouble. It will also help you decide if you want to further enter this line of business.

permits

USDA will allow U.S. citizens to apply for permits to transport live snails or eggs across state lines (it will NOT allow live importation of snails/eggs from overseas). They is no such thing as a USDA-approved snail farm; it is simply a permit to transport and contain a regulated species, in this case, invasive snails.

To obtain a permit for interstate transport, you must apply through USDA. Obtaining a permit rests on the proper containment and quarantine of all specimens transported. Herein lies the difficulty with the regulations. Quarantine essentially means that all snails transported must, for the entirety of their lives and their offsprings’ lives, be quarantined inside a USDA-inspected and approved facility. So live snails cannot be sold live for use by restaurants, food stores, or the general public. Knowing the regulations and how to navigate the process is key to successfully gaining a permit. We can guide you through the initial application process and containment requirements.