7 U.S.C. § 8320: Expansion of Animal and Plant…

Summary

The Agriculture Secretary can use existing powers to strengthen and expand the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The work includes more inspections at foreign points of origin, better checks at ports and customs, stronger defenses against terrorist introductions, improved ways to handle intentional or accidental outbreaks (including agreements and planning with state and local animal and agriculture agencies), and other steps to reduce bioterrorism risk. The APHIS administrator can set up a central automated system to track plant and animal shipments, including those held at ports. The Secretary must make sure that system is fully available to or linked with the Food Safety Inspection Service. Congress authorized $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year.

Title 7, §8320

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) may utilize existing authorities to give high priority to enhancing and expanding the capacity of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to conduct activities to—

(1)increase the inspection capacity of the Service at international points of origin;

(2)improve surveillance at ports of entry and customs;

(3)enhance methods of protecting against the introduction of plant and animal disease organisms by terrorists;

(4)develop new and improve existing strategies and technologies for dealing with intentional outbreaks of plant and animal disease arising from acts of terrorism or from unintentional introduction, including—

(A)establishing cooperative agreements among Veterinary Services of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, State animal health commissions and regulatory agencies for livestock and poultry health, and private veterinary practitioners to enhance the preparedness and ability of Veterinary Services and the commissions and agencies to respond to outbreaks of such animal diseases; and

(B)strengthening planning and coordination with State and local agencies, including—

(i)State animal health commissions and regulatory agencies for livestock and poultry health; and

(ii)State agriculture departments; and

(5)otherwise improve the capacity of the Service to protect against the threat of bioterrorism.

(b)Automated recordkeeping system

The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service may implement a central automated recordkeeping system to provide for the reliable tracking of the status of animal and plant shipments, including those shipments on hold at ports of entry and customs. The Secretary shall ensure that such a system shall be fully accessible to or fully integrated with the Food Safety Inspection Service.

(c)Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, and not as part of the Animal Health Protection Act which comprises this chapter.

§8320 Expansion of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Activities

Summary

Title 7, §8320

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata