A ship's flag state exercises regulatory control over the vessel and is required to inspect it regularly, certify the ship's equipment and crew, and issue safety and pollution prevention documents. (politics.stackexchange.com)
There is concern that the impacts of any deal will fall disproportionately on flag states with many ships registered. (carbonbrief.org)
Florida, Georgia and several others are RED FLAG states for heartworm disease. (theanimalleague.org)