§7642 Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database program

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must keep the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database (FARAD) program running by working with appropriate colleges or universities under contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements. Each agreement lasts 3 years and can be renewed every 3 years. The program must give farmers, extension workers, scientists, and veterinarians information to avoid drug, pesticide, and other contaminant residues in meat, milk, and eggs. It must keep current data on drug withdrawal times, legal tolerances, test methods and sensitivities, and how chemicals move through animals. The program must publish lists of approved animal drugs, share information through handbooks, software, a phone hotline, and the Internet, support producer quality‑assurance programs, maintain the database, and offer professional advice on safe withdrawal times. Federal payments to recipients may be reduced for indirect costs by up to 19% of the funds. Up to $2,500,000 was authorized for each fiscal year 2008 through 2023 to carry out the program.