FSIS, AMS Continue at Near Full Strength Despite Shutdown; APHIS to Continue AQI Activities
Most import and export activities conducted by the Agriculture Department will continue at near full strength in the new year, despite the agency running out of funds for some other activities due to the federal government shutdown, USDA said in…
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a press release. According to the agency’s shutdown plan, 89 percent of Food Safety and Inspection Service staff will remain on the job for activities including meat, poultry and egg inspection and laboratory work. The Agricultural Marketing Service will also keep 89 percent of its current staff, including for voluntary grading and inspection services. For the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 69 percent will continue working through the shutdown, for preclearance and inspection activities related to fruits and vegetables, phytosanitary certificate and agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) activities, including after business hours. More heavily affected is the Foreign Agricultural Service, which will only keep 15 percent of its staff, including foreign service personnel assigned to embassies and consulates overseas.