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Public Policy Resource Center
Advocacy Resource Center
Produce for Better Health Foundation
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Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff expressed his commitment to make reforms in the Agriculture Quarantine Inspection (AQI) Program. In a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Secretary Chertoff said that Agriculture Specialists would be specifically assigned to agriculture inspection activities, and a new position, Deputy Executive Director, Agriculture Operational Oversight, would be created to oversee and improve the operation of the agriculture inspection mission. Previously, Senator Feinstein had proposed a Farm Bill amendment that would have transferred the AQI program back to USDA, the agency that oversaw the agricultural border inspection function until 2003. Over the last several years, the produce industry has continued to express frustration that DHS has diluted the mission of the AQI program by creating multiple missions for AQI inspectors, decreasing their ability to focus on reducing the risk of pest and diseases coming into the country. “The threat of pests and disease is too great for us to continue to not demand change in this current AQI program,” said Robert Guenther, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for United Fresh. “We are pleased with the commitments from Secretary Chertoff and thank Senator Feinstein for her efforts to push this forward,” he stated. For more information, please contact Robert, 202-303-3409.
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