U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Compliance Contacts
Contact the following individual(s) to get more information on complying with USDA regulations:
Megen Davis
Office of CIO
Chief Information Management Division
Phone: 202-690-3318
TTY/TTD: 800-256-7072
Email: Megen.davis@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
- Compliance Assistance : Labeling Guidelines
Labeling guidance, policies, inspection methods, and other documents related to FSIS' labeling programs that are aimed at protecting consumers from misbranded and economically adulterated meat, poultry, and egg products which ensure that all labels are truthful and not misleading.
- Food Safety Compliance Assistance : New Technologies
Information on new technologies that companies may employ to ensure that their use is consistent with Agency regulations and will not adversely affect product safety, inspection procedures, or the safety of FSIS inspectors.
- Small and Very Small Plant Outreach Materials
Information on a variety of documents aimed at helping small and very small food processing plants comply with food safety and HACCP regulations.
- Food Production and Inspection Fact Sheets
A series of Fact Sheets on a variety of food safety, production, and inspection topics.
- Fact Sheets on Food Labeling
A series of Fact Sheets about food labeling terms and requirements.
- Resources for Small & Very Small Plants
Guidebook for the Preparation of HACCP Plans and Generic HACCP Models
- State HACCP Contacts and Coordinators
Telephone numbers and addresses for key personnel, district offices, and information lines within the Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Food Safety and Inspection Service Compliance Guides
FSIS instructions and information provided to producers and agricultural businesses in maintaining compliance with mandatory food safety and inspection legislation.
Foreign Agricultural Service
- Market Development Programs
Information on Foreign Agricultural Service sponsored programs designed to assist in the expansion of export opportunities.
- Foreign Agricultural Service Fact Sheets
Information on a variety of topics related to exporting agricultural commodities. Specific information on programs the Foreign Agricultural Service sponsors is also available.
- Food Export Certificate Project
Information on food export certificates which are paper or electronic documents requested by an importing nation that describes and/or attests to animal health or product safety, production, or processing methods, packaging, labeling, or specific attributes of a food/food ingredient intended for international destinations.
- Biotechnology and U.S. Agricultural Trade - Questions and Ansers
Information on the concept of biotechnology, who regulates biotechnology, and the impact of biotechnology on foreign trade.
- Import Programs for Agriculture Products
Information on programs the Foreign Agricultural Service offers to promote import requirements and opportunities.
- U.S. Exporter Assistance : Pricing, Quotes, and Negotiations
Information on proper pricing, complete and accurate quotations, and choice of terms for the sale of exports so that selling products in foreign markets is successful.
- Export Enhancement Program Fact Sheet
Information on the Export Enhancement Program (EEP), which is designed to help U.S. farm products meet competition from subsidizing countries, especially the European Union.
- General Sales Manager Online System
The General Sales Manager Online System enables U.S. exporters and U.S. banks to submit required documentation online, or electronically, for the GSM-102, Supplier Credit Guarantee and Facility Guarantee Programs. These programs facilitate commercial financing of U.S. agricultural exports.
- U.S. Exporter Assistance : Shipping Documentation, and Requirements
A series of documents outlining the shipping documentation required to export commodities and other requirements.
- Exporter Assistance for Agriculture and Forestry Industries
A series of resources, products, and services that can help companies explore the potential for international sales.
- Supplier Credit Guarantee Program
Information on how exporters can sell U.S. food products overseas through insuring short-term, open account financing.
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.
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization