Government Agencies

Every person involved in the food chain, from farmer to consumer, has a responsibility in keeping the food supply safe. Government agencies, including the ones listed below, work closely with one another to ensure that all food products sold and consumed in the United States are safe.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on agriculture, farming, and food. The USDA was established on May 15, 1962.

 The USDA aims to:

• meet the needs of farmers and ranchers
• promote agricultural trade and production
• assure food safety
• protect natural resources
• foster rural communities
• end hunger both within and outside the United States

 http://usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome

Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)

The Food Safety and Inspection Service is the public health agency in the United States Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. The Food Safety Inspection Service, originally named the Food Safety and Quality Service, was established on March 14, 1977 with the responsibility of meat and poultry products inspection from APHIS. FSIS authority covers beef, pork, lamb, poultry, processed eggs, and other further processed products that contain meat or poultry, like soups, stews, and frozen, prepackaged meals. FSIS is responsible for:

• inspecting individual products and processing plants
• testing products for various types of food contamination
• maintaining a system for import inspections and controls
• establish facility sanitation requirements
• prescribing labeling requirements
• developing consumer education programs on food safety
• monitoring the effectiveness of voluntary recalls in order to remove unsafe meat, poultry, and egg products from commerce

FSIS accomplishes the above responsibilities as well as protecting consumers from foodborne illnesses by overseeing and enforcing the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

 The Agricultural Marketing Service is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture that supervises programs in five commodity areas—Dairy, Fruit, and Vegetable, Livestock and Seed, Poultry, Cotton, and Tobacco—to facilitate the efficient, fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products. These programs provide standardization, grading and market news services for the listed commodities. AMS enforces such federal laws as the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and the Federal Seed Act. AMS commodity programs also oversee marketing agreements and orders, administer research and promotion programs, and purchase commodities for Federal food programs. Two of these programs include the National Organic Program and the Country of Origin Labeling Program.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/

Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

The Agricultural Research Service is the United States Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency. ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day, from farm to table. The research performed by the ARS provides information to:

• ensure high quality, safe food, and other agricultural products
• assess the nutritional needs of Americans
• sustain a competitive agricultural economy
• enhance the natural resource base and the environment
• provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole

http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/main.htm

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture that provides leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and plants. APHIS improves agricultural productivity and competitiveness as well as contributes to the national economy and the public health. APHIS protects and promotes food, agriculture and natural resources by:

• protecting and promoting United States agricultural health
• regulating genetically engineered organisms
• overseeing the Animal Welfare Act
• carrying out wildlife damage management activities

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

Department of Human and Health Services (HHS)

The Department of Health and Human Services is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. The HHS has many agencies that perform a variety of tasks and services that include research, public health, food and drug safety, grants and other funding, and health insurance.

http://www.hhs.gov/

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The Food and Drug Administration is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of:

• human and veterinary drugs
• biological products
• medical devices
• our nation’s food supply
• cosmetics
• products that emit radiation
• tobacco products

FDA is also responsible for advancing public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable as well as helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

http://www.fda.gov/