USDA Defines Its Essential Services

In a letter to vendors, the USDA outlined what operations will be allowed in areas affected by shelter-in-residence directives, reports Food Business News. The letter was issued by David Tuckwiller, deputy administrator, commodity procurement, at the USDA’s agricultural marketing service. USDA department functions that have been determined to be essential include:

• Food safety and inspection services
• Animal plant health and inspection services
• Agricultural marketing services
• Farm service agency
• Natural resources conservation services
• Forest services
• Agricultural research services

“Failure to provide the services outlined above could jeopardize US agriculture, food safety, and food production and supply and adversely affect the health, welfare and safety of the public,” Tuckwiller said in the letter. Full Story

Related: FDA Postpones Domestic Routine Surveillance Inspections; FDA, USDA Respond to Coronavirus Outbreak.

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