A regulatory agency unlike any other, designed to support the industries it regulates. Joe Funk jfunk@issuesink.com USDA’S ANIMAL AND Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has broad responsibility for safeguarding the health and value of U.S. agricultural and natural resources. So far-reaching is its mission that it touches the lives of most Americans every day. Since its 1972 formation, APHIS has evolved into a multifaceted agency with responsibilities that include protecting and promoting agricultural health from foreign pests and diseases, regulating genetically-engi- neered (GE) organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act, and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. “APHIS is a different kind of regulatory agency,” says Kevin Shea, APHIS adminis- trator. “Our mission is to make healthy and profitable the very people we regulate. “To make sure we are hitting the mark, we work closely with farmers and ranch- ers to understand the many complex plant health challenges and opportunities facing agriculture. We consider the full range of regulatory and non-regulatory options, and use cutting-edge technolo- gies, the latest science, advanced meth- ods and data to reach our shared goals.” Leaders of APHIS’ Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) program and Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program work closely with those in the seed industry. Program Spotlight BRS analyzes certain GE organisms to ensure they do not pose a risk to USDA’S ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE 22 / SEEDWORLD.COM JUNE 2019 plant health. These responsibilities are coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration as described in the fed- eral Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology. These regulations can be intimidating for those not intimate with the process. As such, a support program was developed: the Biotechnology Quality Management Support Program. This program helps organizations of any size (universities, small businesses and large organizations) develop sound quality management prac- tices to enhance their ability to comply with APHIS’ regulations governing GE organisms. While BRS focuses on safety, PPQ focuses on prevention, and then if necessary, control. This work spans a wide spectrum of activities, including offshore programs, permitting, port and border inspection, pest identifi- cation and mitigation, and smuggling interdiction and trade compli- ance, as well as pest detection, response, management and eradication programs. PPQ also facilitates safe agricultural trade by: • Promoting science-based trade standards to help create a fair, pre- dictable, rules-based global trade system. • Resolving plant-health barriers to trade, helping to expand and maintain current export markets and open new ones. • Certifying the health of exports to make sure that the United States presents clean products that meet the requirements of importing countries. Areas where PPQ works closely with the seed industry include Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV), a National Seed Health Accreditation Pilot