Information Quality

In compliance with the requirements of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Information Quality Guidelines, this page provides information pertaining to requests for correction of information disseminated by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The USDA Information Quality Guidelines correction mechanisms are not intended to imply any rights of individuals to request amendment of their own records beyond those permitted by the Privacy Act of 1974 or other organization-specific laws.

Where To Submit a Formal Request For Correction

Information to be Submitted with Request

• Statement that the request is being submitted under USDA's Information Quality Guidelines 
• Contact information (name, mailing address, phone, email, and organizational affiliation of person submitting request)
•  Description of information to correct
  • Name of FAS publication, report or data product;
  • Date of issue or other identifying information such as web URL; and
  • detailed description of information for which correction is being sought 
• Explanation of how the information fails to meet OMB and/or USDA Information Quality Guidelines
• Explanation of the effect of alleged error
• Recommendation and justification for how the Information should be corrected 

This guidance for the content of requests for correction of information is not intended to constitute a set of legally binding requirements. Requesters bear the burden of proof with respect to the necessity for correction as well as the type of correction sought. The FAS may be unable to process, in a timely fashion or at all, requests that omit one or more of the requested elements. FAS will base its decision on the merits of the information provided by the requester.

Public Disclosure Of Requests For Correction or Requests for Reconsideration of FAS Decisions

No requests for correction or reconsideration have been received from October 2002 through the present date.

Privacy Act Statement

USDA is authorized to obtain certain information under Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law No. 106-554, codified at 44 U.S.C. 3516, note). Information is needed by USDA to process the request for correction and allow USDA to reply accordingly. This information is needed by USDA to respond to the requester and initiate follow-up contact if required. Requesters should not send USDA their Social Security Number. Requesters are advised that they do not have to furnish the information but failure to do so may prevent their request from being processed. The information furnished is almost never used for any purpose other than to process and respond to the request. However, USDA may disclose information to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry made on behalf of the requester, to the Department of Justice, to a court or other tribunal when the information is relevant and necessary to litigation, or to a contractor or another federal agency to help accomplish a function related to this process.

Peer Review

At this time FAS has no agenda of forthcoming influential scientific information or highly influential scientific assessments to post on its website in accordance with OMB's Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.