 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The Office of Food Defense & Emergency Response (OFDER) coordinates and manages all homeland
security activities within FSIS. OFDER makes sure that policy makers, scientists,
field staff and management are prepared to prevent and respond to any food security threat.
|
|
 |
Breaking News
In the event of an actual incident or threat to the security of the food
supply, information will be posted first at the USDA Web site www.usda.gov.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact Information:
- OFDER Main number: (202) 720-5643
- OFDER 24-Hour Emergency Number: 1-866-395-9701
|
|
|
|
Mission
Created in 2002, the Office of Food Defense and Emergency Response (OFDER) develops and coordinates
all FSIS activities to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from non-routine emergencies
resulting from intentional and non-intentional contamination affecting meat, poultry and egg products.
OFDER serves as the agency's central office for homeland security issues and ensures coordination of
its activities with the USDA Homeland Security Office, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), other Federal and State government agencies with food-related
responsibilities, and industry.
Authorities
OFDER draws its regulatory authority from the following Acts:
- Federal
Meat Inspection Act (FMIA)
- Poultry
Products Inspection Act (PPIA)
- Egg Products
Inspection Act (EPIA)
Many of FSIS' food defense activities are directed by Homeland Security Presidential Directives 5,
7 and
9 and
the Bioterrorism Act of 2002.
With respect to emergency response, FSIS' OFDER manages the agency's responsibilities under
Emergency Support Function 11 (ESF 11) (PDF Only) of
the National
Response Framework (NRF).
Food Defense & Emergency
Response Strategy
FSIS has strategically grouped its food defense activities into the categories of preparedness, surveillance,
response, and recovery to ensure that its resources are used efficiently to further protect public health.
Emergency Management Committee
OFDER manages the FSIS Emergency Management Committee (EMC), which is comprised of senior members of the
agency's program areas and can be convened 24/7 to respond to all emergencies (non-routine incidents)
using Incident Command System (ICS) principles. Directive 5500.2, Rev. 2,
Non Routine Incident Response, has been developed and implemented to establish the operating principles
of the EMC.
Other OFDER Activities
FSIS has developed response plans for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and for Human Pandemic
Influenza Operations Plan (HPOP).
- The HPAI Plan includes the development of a product testing protocol for poultry meat, and the
development of enhanced inspection procedures to be used if infected birds are detected in
FSIS-regulated facilities.
- The HPOP prepares the agency to protect the health and safety of its employees and ensure the
delivery of critical essential functions if pandemic influenza occurs in the United States. The
Plan specifically addresses Communication, Social Distancing, Employee Tracking, and Essential
Functions during a pandemic.
|
Last Modified: July 15, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
