The Horticultural Inspection Society, Southern Chapter was founded January 7, 1999 in Little Rock Arkansas. The States comprising the Southern Chapter are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The Horticultural Inspection Society is an organization of inspectors, laboratory and field personnel who regulate plant movement to prevent the spread of plant pests and disease. These individuals enforce laws and regulations for their state agencies which deal with pest prevention. These agencies are usually found within the state's Department of Agriculture but may also be found at the state's University.

The purpose of the Southern Chapter, as stated in its constitution:

>To promote high standards of inspection work;

>To combine and share expertise, knowledge, experience and training among plant pest inspectors and increase professionalism;

>To provide a means of furthering fellowship among plant pest inspectors and allied workers;

>To provide a means of disseminating information particularly pertinent to plant pest inspection work.

Members of H.I.S., as well as their non-member peers work closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Forest Service, and Agriculture Research Service (ARS) to prevent the entry of new plant pests and disease into the country. They inspect plants and commodities for export so that required phytosanitary certification can be provided. All are actively involved in working with industry and the general public as needed, to prevent the development of plant pest problems. If you have questions or comments to make please drop a note to the HIS Southern Chapter.