Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is an operating unit of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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APHIS' mission (2003): To protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources.
APHIS aims to protect American animals, plants, and the agricultural industry by offering:
- Protection from invasive non-native plants, animals, insects, and diseases
- Monitoring and management of existing agricultural pests and diseases
- Resolution and management of trade issues related to animal or plant health
- Prevention or cessation of the inhumane treatment (of animals)
The threats and challenges within APHIS' scope include:
- Non-compliant biotech events
- Invasive species
- Agricultural animal/plant health threats
- Agricultural bioterrorism
- SPS trade barriers
- Wildlife conflicts and diseases
- Zoonotic diseases
- Animal welfare issues
APHIS aims to protect ecosystems, natural resources, agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural exports, consumer health and safety, and animal welfare from the above threats.
(APHIS website, 2003)
New challenges for APHIS include bioterrorism (Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Act (2002)), BSE and Avian Influenza (AI). APHIS is responsible for the administration of the USDA's controversial National Animal Identification System and the Wildlife Services Program.
APHIS has a budget of approximately $800 million annually and employs about 7,000 people, about 5,000 of which are deployed as inspectors at ports, borders and on farms. The former APHIS administrator is Ron DeHaven. He was appointed by Ann Veneman in April 2004. The current APHIS administrator, Cindy Smith was appointed in September 2007. She is notable for being the first female administrator of The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service agency.([1])
In 2003, many APHIS agricultural inspectors were transferred to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a unit of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
APHIS is the primary agency responsible for responding to animal and plant disease(s)and pest emergencies but also raises the expectation that we will help in responding to other emergencies as set forth by the National Response Plan (NRP) completed in 2005 (APHIS Strategic Plan 2003-2008).
United States government agencies involved in Environmental science |
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United States Environmental Protection Agency | Department of the Interior | National Park Service • Fish and Wildlife Service • Bureau of Indian Affairs • Bureau of Land Management • Minerals Management Service • Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement • Geological Survey • Bureau of Reclamation • Office of Insular Affairs |
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Weather Service • National Ocean Service • National Geodetic Survey • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • National Marine Fisheries Service • Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research |
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Department of Energy | Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy • Energy Information Administration • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission • Biological and Environmental Research • Office of Environmental Management |
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Department of Agriculture | Farm Service Agency • Foreign Agricultural Service • Risk Management Agency • Food Safety and Inspection Service • Forest Service • Natural Resources Conservation Service • Rural Business-Cooperative Service • Office of Community Development • Rural Housing Service • Rural Utilities Service • Food and Nutrition Service • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion • Agricultural Marketing Service • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration • Agricultural Research Service • Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service • Economic Research Service • National Agricultural Statistics Service • Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service |
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Agencies under the United States Department of Agriculture |
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Secretary of Agriculture
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment
Forest Service •
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services
Farm Service Agency •
Foreign Agricultural Service •
Risk Management Agency
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development
Rural Development
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
Food and Nutrition Service •
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics
Agricultural Research Service •
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service •
Economic Research Service •
National Agricultural Library •
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Agricultural Marketing Service •
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service •
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation •
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
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