Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Councils

1. Food and Agriculture SectorCoordinating Councils John L. Williams, DVM U.S. Department of Agriculture AFDO Annual Conference Kansas City, MO June 7, 2005

2. Food & Ag. Sector Coordinating Councils GOAL: A public-private effort that protects public health and that builds and sustains a protected national food supply chain where the U.S. Food and Agriculture Infrastructure is secure, resilient and prepared. END STATE: Homeland Security Presidential Directive-9

3. Food & Agriculture SectorStrategic Planning • Partnership program is well established with 75% of the sector represented under the new Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council (SCC) and meets biweekly. • Federal, state and local governments have organized into the Food & Agriculture Government Coordinating Council (GCC) which meets biweekly. • Their leaderships also meet biweekly. • The GCC is working directly with the SCC on key issues and providing a means to achieve unity and collaboration on key infrastructure security issues. This relationship is also facilitating public-private partnering at the state and local levels. • The awareness of the potential risks to the infrastructure and the importance of protecting the nation’s food chain has been raised. The value of public-private coordination and collaboration on food and agriculture security is now broadly accepted. Current Sector Review

4. Food & Ag. Sector Coordinating Councils Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council Government Coordinating Council (DHS, USDA, HHS/FDA) PRIVATE SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR • Food and Agriculture Government • Coordinating Council • Department of Homeland Security • Department of Agriculture • Department of Health and Human Services/Food and Drug Administration • Department of Defense • Environmental Protection Agency • Department of Commerce • Department of Justice • Department of Interior • Assoc. of State and Territorial Health Officials • Nat’l Assoc. of State Departments of Agriculture • National Assembly of State Chief Livestock Health Officials • Assoc. of Food and Drug Officials • National Assoc. of City and County Health Officials • Food and Agriculture Private Sector Sub-Councils • Producers/Plant Sub-Council- Comprised of 30 Firms and Associations • Producers/Animal Sub-Council- Comprised of 42 Firms and Associations and Affiliated Industry Groups • Processors/Manufacturers Sub-Council- Comprised of 61 Firms and Associations • Restaurants/Food Service Sub-Council- Comprised of 6 Associations • Retail Sub-Council- Comprised of 6 Associations • Warehousing and Logistic Sub-Council- Comprised of 10 Associations • Agriculture Production Inputs and Services Sub-Council- Comprised of 16 Firms and Associations

5. Government Coordinating Council (GCC) • Mission and Purpose • The GCC provides effective coordination of agriculture and food security strategies and activities, policy, and communication across government and between the government and the sector to support the nation’s homeland security mission. • The GCC with the public health and clinical issues resulting from a terrorist act involving the food supply. • It acts as the counterpart and partner to the private industry-led Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council to plan, implement and execute sufficient and necessary sector-wide defense programs for the nation’s Food and Agriculture Critical Infrastructure.

6. Food and Agriculture Sector Government Coordinating Council Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council The GCC is comprised of director-level representatives from federal, state and local government agencies and organizations. The FASCC is comprised of 3 representatives from each of 7 sub councils. Coordination across sub councils will happen at the council level. Dept. of Homeland Security Dept. of Agriculture Dept. of Health and Human Services/Food and Drug Administration Dept. of Defense Environmental Protection Agency Assoc. of State and Territorial Health Officials Nat’l Assoc. of State Departments of Agriculture Nat’l Assoc. of County and City Health Officials Nat’l Assembly of State Chief Livestock Health Officials Ex Officio members Association of Food and Drug Officials Department of Commerce Department of Interior Department of Justice Ex officio members are non-voting participants whose criteria and qualifications for participating are based upon the ongoing needs for expertise and decisions by the GCC leadership. The purpose of their membership is for the GCC to gain relevant organizational and institutional representation and expertise. The GCC and SCC will meet quarterly to coordinate food and agriculture security strategies and activities. Decisions will be made on a consensus basis. Communication and information exchange between Councils will be handled by the respective Secretariats.

7. Food & Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council (F&ASCC) • Private sector owners, operators, and trade associations • Information Sharing Concept taken to the next level • Broad industry participation • Now organized and functioning

8. Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council (FASCC) Food and Agriculture Sector Government Coordinating Council (GCC) Coordinating Committee Each sub council will take responsibility for organizing Itself. Producers/ Plant Sub Council Producers/ Animals Sub Council Processors/ Manufacturers Sub Council Restaurants/ Food Services Sub Council Retail Sub Council Warehousing and Logistics Sub- Council Inputs/ Services Sub Council Priority Issues Communication Information Sharing Community and Educational Outreach Research and Development (Includes Detection) Vulnerability Assessment / Prioritization Shielding Recovery ISAC Each sub-council will identify priority issues. This list is subject to change. Sub councils will likely prioritize issues on this list differently and may add additional issues.

9. Sector Councils – Key Activities GCC and F&ASCC come together in Joint Working Groups to address key issues: • Review, comment, and implement – Interim National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and Food and Agriculture Sector Specific Plans (SSPs) • Share Best Practices & Address Gaps • Improve communications and information sharing capabilities – Homeland Security Information Network This sector is the most advanced in terms of organization and addressing issues jointly. DHS is using it as a model for other sectors as they organize and develop Councils.

10. USDA Homeland Security Office Contact Information Phone: (202) 720-7654 www.usda.gov/homelandsecurity/