Food and Agriculture SectorCoordinating Councils
John L. Williams, DVMU.S. Department of Agriculture
AFDO Annual ConferenceKansas City, MO
June 7, 2005
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
Food & Agriculture SectorStrategic Planning
Current Sector Review 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.
Food & Ag. Sector Coordinating Councils
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
PUBLIC SECTOR PRIVATE SECTORGovernment Coordinating Council (DHS, USDA, HHS/FDA)
Food and Agriculture GovernmentCoordinating 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 GovernmentCoordinating 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 Sector Coordinating Council
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.
Government Coordinating Council (GCC)
Food and Agriculture SectorGovernment Coordinating Council
Food and Agriculture
Sector Coordinating
Council
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
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.
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.
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
Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council (FASCC)
Coordinating Committee
Food and Agriculture Sector Government Coordinating
Council (GCC)
Producers/ PlantSub
Council
Producers/Animals
Sub Council
Processors/ Manufacturers
SubCouncil
Restaurants/ Food Services Sub
Council
RetailSub Council
ISACPriority Issues
CommunicationInformation Sharing
Community and Educational OutreachResearch and Development (Includes Detection)
Vulnerability Assessment / PrioritizationShieldingRecovery
Each sub council will take responsibility for organizingItself.
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.
Warehousing and Logistics
Sub- Council
Inputs/Services
Sub Council
Sector Councils – Key Activities
• 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
GCC and F&ASCC come together in Joint Working Groups to address key issues:
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.
USDA Homeland Security Office Contact Information
Phone: (202) 720-7654www.usda.gov/homelandsecurity/
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