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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Compliance Contacts

Contact the following individual(s) to get more information on complying with USDA regulations:

Christine Chavez
Phone: 202-720-7117
christine.chavez@osec.usda.gov

Compliance Resources

The following agencies and offices provide compliance resources for small businesses:

Agricultural Marketing Service

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

  • Animal and Animal Product Import and Export Information
    Find information on the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's activities and services to suppor import and export of animals, animal products, and biologicals.
  • Electronic Freedom of Information Act Reading Room
    An electronic reading room for accessing a variety of documents related to Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service programs.
  • Center for Veterinary Biologics Forms and Permits
    Forms and permits to meet the requirements of the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act of 1913.
  • National Veterinary Accreditation Program
    Information on the National Veterinary Accreditation Program which certifies private veterinary practitioners to work cooperatively with Federal veterinarians and State animal health officials.
  • Agricultural Select Agent Program
    Information on the requirements for businesses and individuals possessing, using, or transferring agents or toxins deemed a severe threat to public, animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products.
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Program Publications
    This webpage provides access to all the publications currently available from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The publications presented here are organized into the following categories: APHIS General Information, Animal Health, Plant Health, Biotechnology, Wildlife Damage, and Animal Welfare. Whenever possible, publications are made available in both English and Spanish.
  • Animal Care Standards
    Information on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Animal Care (AC) program, which provides leadership for determining standards of humane care and treatment of animals. AC implements those standards and achieves compliance through inspection, education, and cooperative efforts.
  • Biotechnology Regulatory Services
    Information on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS), which protects America's agriculture and environment using a dynamic and science-based regulatory framework that allows for the safe development and use of genetically engineered organisms.
  • Phytosanitary Certificates and the Import and Export of Plants and Plant Products
    A list of frequently asked questions regarding the regulations for importing plant and plant products into the United States and the use of phytosanitary (plant health) certificates to ensure that products imported are free of pests.
  • Plant Protection and Quarantine
    Information on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's efforts to safeguard agriculture and natural resources from the risks associated with the entry, establishment, or spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds to ensure an abundant, high-quality, and varied food supply.
  • Plant Protection and Quarantine Manuals
    Domestic plant protections and import restrictions.
  • How APHIS Facilitates Agricultural Exports
    Information on the role the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plays in the exportation of agricultural products.
  • How APHIS Facilitates Agricultural Imports
    Information on the role the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plays in the importation of agricultural products.
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Permits
    Provides information on the various permits that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issues as well as online access for acquiring those permits.

Food and Nutrition Service

Food Safety Inspection Service

Foreign Agricultural Service

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)

  • Rights under the Packers and Stockyards Act
    Information on which sellers and growers are protected under the P&S; Act's trust provisions and what to do if you don't get paid. Publications are also available for downloading and submission to GIPSA and the packer or live poultry dealer who owes you for livestock or poultry as notification to preserve trust benefits.
  • Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration - Educational Materials
    Educational brochures in PDF format for online viewing related to all of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration sponsored programs.
  • Packer Responsibilities
    Information on basic responsibilities for packers, as stipulated in the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as Amended and Supplemented, and the Regulations issued there under, for a complete list of legal responsibilities
  • Live Poultry Dealer Responsibilities
    Information on the basic responsibilities for live poultry dealers as stipulated in the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as Amended and Supplemented, and the Regulations issued there under, for a complete list of legal responsibilities.
  • Market Agency Buying on Commission, Dealer, and Clearing Agency Responsibilities
    Information on basic responsibilities for market agencies buying on commission, dealers, and clearing agencies as stipulated in the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as Amended and Supplemented, and the Regulations issued there under, for a complete list of legal responsibilities.
  • Market Agency Selling on Commission and Stockyard Owner Responsibilities
    Information on the basic responsibilities for market agencies selling on commission, and stockyards owners as stipulated in the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as Amended and Supplemented, and the Regulations issued there under, for a complete list of legal responsibilities.
  • Livestock, Meat & Poultry : Regulated Entities
    A description of regulated entities' roles under the Packers and Stockyards Act
  • Grain Inspector Standardization Program
    Information on the Inspector Standardization program that provides inspectors with online learning tools, which when used in combination with hands-on-training, will help inspectors properly grade market samples and improve inspection consistency nationwide.
  • Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration - eLearning Materials
    A variety of multimedia CDs created for the official system to the U.S. grain industry.
  • GIPSA Official Service Providers: Licensing
    The licensing site contains study materials, examinations, and score sheets for official agency personnel to use for administering licensing exams for samplers and technicians who perform official functions under the Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) and/or United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA).
  • GIPSA - Laws and Regulations (Directives and Notices)
    Every customer of the official grain inspection and weighing system, wherever they are located, receives consistent, accurate service. That's because every official service provider operates under uniform standards and procedure that are communicate to all official system partners through issuances called directives and notices.
  • Official Service Providers - Grain Inspection and Weighing Services
    The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration delegates qualified State agencies to inspect and weigh grain at certain U.S. export port locations; and designates qualified State and private agencies to inspect and weigh grain at interior locations
  • Grain, Rice & Pulses : Designation Information and Applications
    The United States Grain Standards Act allows GIPSA to designate persons, States, or local governments to provide official inspection and weighing services for a period up to a 3 years.
  • Packers and Stockyards Program
    General regulatory information for poultry growers and firms.
  • Livestock Producers and Firms
    General information and links relating to the Packers and Stockyards Program (PS&P;) and the Packers and Stockyards Act.
  • Swine Contract Library
    The Swine Contract Library is intended to aid in the price discovery process and provide equal access to market information for all market participants.
  • Inspection Services
    GIPSA's Federal Grain Inspection Service provides inspection services on grains, pulses, oilseeds, and processed and graded commodities. These services facilitate the efficient and effective marketing of U.S. grain and other commodities from farmers to domestic and international end users.
  • Grain Exporter Registration
    The United States Grain Standards Act requires the registration of all persons engaged in the business of buying grain for sale in foreign commerce. In addition, those individuals who handle, weigh, or transport grain for sale in foreign commerce must register.
  • Exporting Grain
    Information on requirements that must be met by individuals or companies exporting grain, oilseeds, or related commodities from the United States. The requirements vary based on whether the commodity is covered by the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) or the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA).
  • Official Weighing Services
    A summary of the official grain weighing process for the Grain Inspectors, Packers and Stockyard Administration of USDA.

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