§7642 Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database Program

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must keep the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database (FARAD) program operating by hiring colleges or universities through contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements. FARAD must give farmers, extension workers, scientists, and veterinarians information to prevent drug, pesticide, and environmental residues in meat, milk, and eggs. It must keep current data on drug withdrawal times, official tolerances for drugs and pesticides in tissues, eggs, and milk, descriptions and sensitivity of quick screening tests, and how chemicals move through food animals. FARAD must also publish lists of FDA‑approved animal drugs, share information with the public (for example in handbooks, software, a phone hotline, and online), provide data to quality‑assurance programs, keep a full residue‑avoidance database, give expert advice about safe withdrawal times, and carry out other food safety work. The Secretary must offer one or more suitable colleges or universities a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement to run FARAD. Each agreement must last 3 years and may be extended every three years. Federal funds paid under these agreements may be reduced for the recipient’s indirect costs by no more than 19 percent of the total federal funds. In addition, $2,500,000 is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year 2008 through 2023 to carry out the program.