This paper presents an empirical model of optimal budget allocation for import inspection of imported commodities. In this model, the budget constrained inspecting Agency wants to minimize the expected pest costs related to import trade pathways. The model is applied to the problem of budget allocation for inspection of chrysanthemum cuttings imported to the Netherlands. The numerical results imply that under a budget constraint, resources should be first allocated for inspection of pathways with the greatest expected pest costs. Pathways with lower expected pest costs should receive less or no resources. The inspecting Agency has to trade off risks between inspected and non-inspected pathways.