7 USC 8914 - Agriculture and food defense

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 21, 2024

§ 8914.

Agriculture and food defense

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Animal

(2)

Disease or pest of concern

The term “disease or pest of concern” means a plant or animal disease or pest that—

(A)

is—

(i)

a transboundary disease; or

(ii)

an established disease; and

(B)

is likely to pose a significant risk to the food and agriculture critical infrastructure sector that warrants efforts at prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery.

(3)

Established disease

The term “established disease” means a plant or animal disease or pest that—

(A)

(i)

if it becomes established, poses an imminent threat to agriculture in the United States; or

(ii)

has become established, as defined by the Secretary, within the United States; and

(B)

requires management.

(4)

High-consequence plant transboundary disease

The term “high-consequence plant transboundary disease” means a transboundary disease that is—

(A)

(i)

a plant disease; or

(ii)

a plant pest; and

(B)

of high consequence, as determined by the Secretary.

(5)

Pest

The term “pest”—

(A)

with respect to a plant, has the meaning given the term “plant pest” in section 7702 of this title; and

(B)

with respect to an animal, has the meaning given the term in section 8302 of this title.

(6)

Plant

(7)

Plant health management strategy

(8)

Transboundary disease

(A)

In general

(B)

Inclusion

The term “transboundary disease” includes a plant or animal disease or pest described in subparagraph (A) that—

(i)

has emerged within the United States; or

(ii)

has been introduced within the United States.

(9)

Veterinary countermeasure

(b)

Disease or Pest of Concern Response Planning

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall—

(A)

establish a list of diseases or pests of concern by—

(i)

developing a process to solicit and receive expert opinion and evidence relating to the diseases or pests of concern entered on the list; and

(ii)

reviewing all available evidence relating to the diseases or pests of concern entered on the list, including classified information; and

(B)

periodically update the list established under subparagraph (A).

(2)

Response plans

(A)

Comprehensive strategic response plan or plans

(B)

State or region response plan or plans

The Secretary shall provide information to a State or region to assist in producing a response plan or plans that shall include a concept of operations for a disease or pest of concern or a platform concept of operations for responses to similar diseases or pests of concern that are determined to be a priority to the State or region that shall, as appropriate—

(i)

describe the appropriate interactions among, and roles of—

(I)

Federal, State, Tribal, and units of local government; and

(II)

plant or animal industry partners;

(ii)

include a decision matrix or dynamic decision modeling tools that, as appropriate, include—

(I)

information and timing requirements necessary for the use of veterinary countermeasures;

(II)

plant health management strategies;

(III)

deployment of other key materials and resources; and

(IV)

parameters for transitioning from outbreak response to disease management;

(iii)

identify key response performance metrics to establish—

(I)

benchmarking to provide assessments of capabilities, capacity, and readiness to achieve response goals and objectives;

(II)

progressive exercise evaluation; and

(III)

continuing improvement of a response plan, including by providing for—

(aa)

ongoing exercises;

(bb)

improvement planning and the implementation of corrective actions to enhance a response plan over time; and

(cc)

strategic information to guide investment in any appropriate research to mitigate the risk of a disease or pest of concern; and

(iv)

be updated periodically, including in response to—

(I)

an exercise evaluation; or

(II)

new risk information becoming available regarding a disease or pest of concern.

(3)

Coordination of plans

(c)

National Plant Diagnostic Network

(1)

In general

(2)

Requirements

The National Plant Diagnostic Network established under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

provide for increased awareness, surveillance, early identification, rapid communication, warning, and diagnosis of a threat to plant health from a disease or pest of concern to protect natural and agricultural plant resources;

(B)

coordinate and collaborate with agencies of the Department of Agriculture and State agencies and authorities involved in plant health;

(C)

establish diagnostic laboratory standards;

(D)

establish regional hubs throughout the United States that provide expertise, leadership, and support to diagnostic labs relating to the agricultural crops and plants in the covered regions of those hubs; and

(E)

establish a national repository for records of endemic or emergent diseases and pests of concern.

(3)

Head of network

(A)

In general

(B)

Duties

The head of the National Plant Diagnostic Network shall—

(i)

coordinate and collaborate with land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in section 3103 of this title) in carrying out the requirements under paragraph (2), including through cooperative agreements described in paragraph (4);

(ii)

partner with the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for assistance with plant health regulation and inspection; and

(iii)

coordinate with other Federal agencies, as appropriate, in carrying out activities relating to the National Plant Diagnostic Network, including the sharing of biosurveillance information.

(4)

Collaboration with land-grant colleges and universities

(5)

Authorization of appropriations

(d)

National Plant Disease Recovery System

(1)

Recovery System

(2)

Requirements

The National Plant Disease Recovery System established under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

coordinate with disease or pest of concern concept of operations response plans;

(B)

make long-range plans for the initiation of future research projects relating to high-consequence plant transboundary diseases;

(C)

establish research plans for long-term recovery;

(D)

plan for the identification and use of specific genotypes, cultivars, breeding lines, and other disease-resistant materials necessary for crop stabilization or improvement; and

(E)

establish a watch list of high-consequence plant transboundary diseases for the purpose of making long-range plans under subparagraph (B).

(Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12203, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4946.)

cite as: 7 USC 8914