Sec. 301 Definition of Secretary
Except as otherwise provided, in this title, the term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Under Secretary of Food Safety.
Title III — Research and education
III Research and education
Sec. 302 Public health assessment system
In general— The Secretary, acting in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and with the Research Education and Economics mission area of the Department of Agriculture, shall—
resolve data-sharing barriers, including those relating to the application of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–191; 110 Stat. 1936), to ensure access to the applicable data systems of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to the databases made available by a State;
maintain an active surveillance system of food, food products, and epidemiological evidence submitted by States to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention based on a representative proportion of the population of the United States;
assess the frequency and sources of human illness in the United States associated with the consumption of food;
maintain a state-of-the-art DNA matching system and epidemiological system dedicated to foodborne illness identification, outbreaks, and containment; and
have access to the surveillance data created via monitoring and statistical studies conducted as part of inspections carried out by or for the Secretary.
Public health sampling—
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish guidelines for a sampling system under which the Secretary shall take and analyze samples of food—
to assist the Secretary in carrying out this title;
to assess the nature, frequency of occurrence, and quantities of contaminants in food; and
to enforce this title and other food safety laws.
Requirements— The sampling system described in paragraph (1) shall provide—
statistically valid monitoring, including market-based studies, on the nature, frequency of occurrence, and quantities of contaminants in food available to consumers; and
at the request of the Secretary, such other information, including analysis of monitoring and verification samples, as the Secretary determines may be useful and appropriate in assessing the occurrence of contaminants in food.
Assessment of health hazards—
In general— Through the surveillance system referred to in subsection (a) and the sampling system described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall work in collaboration with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and other appropriate Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies—
to rank food categories under the jurisdiction of the Secretary based on the hazard to human health presented by the food category;
to identify appropriate industry and regulatory approaches to minimize hazards in the food supply; and
to assess the public health environment for emerging diseases, including zoonosis, for their risk of appearance in the United States food supply.
Components of analysis— The analysis under subsection (b)(1) may include—
a comparison of the safety of commercial processing with the health hazards associated with food that is harvested for recreational or subsistence purposes and prepared noncommercially;
a comparison of the safety of food that is domestically processed with the health hazards associated with food that is processed outside the United States;
a description of contamination originating from handling practices that occur prior to or after the sale of food to consumers; and
use of comparative risk assessments.
Sec. 303 Public education and advisory system
Public education—
In general— The Secretary, in collaboration with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs and in cooperation with private and public organizations, including the cooperative extension services and building on the efforts of appropriate State and local entities, shall establish a national public education program on food safety.
Requirements— The program shall provide—
information to the public regarding Federal standards and best practices and promotion of public awareness, understanding, and acceptance of those standards and practices;
information for health professionals—
to improve diagnosis and treatment of food-related illness; and
to advise individuals at special risk for food-related illnesses;
information to increase consumer and health professional awareness of relative risks of different regulated products and consumer practices in preparing, handling, and consuming the products; and
such other information or advice to consumers and other persons as the Secretary determines will promote the purposes of this subtitle.
Health advisories— The Secretary, in consultation with other Federal departments and agencies as the Secretary determines necessary, shall work with the States and other appropriate entities—
to develop and distribute regional and national advisories concerning food safety;
to develop standardized formats for written and broadcast advisories;
to incorporate State and local advisories into the national public education program established under subsection (a); and
to present prompt, specific information regarding foods found to pose a threat to the public health.
Sec. 304 Research
In general— The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, shall conduct research to carry out this title and improve food safety, including studies—
to improve sanitation and food safety practices in the processing of food;
to develop improved techniques to monitor and inspect food;
to develop efficient, rapid, and sensitive methods to detect contaminants in food;
to determine the sources of contamination of contaminated food;
to develop food consumption data;
to identify ways that animal production techniques could improve the safety of the food supply;
to draw upon research and educational programs that exist at the State and local level;
to use the DNA matching system and other processes to identify and control pathogens;
to address common and emerging zoonotic diseases;
to develop methods to reduce or destroy harmful pathogens before, during, and after processing;
to analyze the incidence of antibiotic resistance as the resistance pertains to the food supply and develop new methods to reduce the transfer of antibiotic resistance to humans;
to conduct research to inform risk communications, including—
conducting studies regarding the knowledge and behavior of industry, health professionals, consumers, and other appropriate stakeholders towards food safety; and
developing a protocol that will balance public welfare needs associated with the food safety research of the Department of Agriculture and the requirements of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act) to account for the time-sensitive nature of communicating with the public about food safety programs;
to improve live animal health, handling, transport, and slaughter methods; and
to conduct other research that supports the purposes of this title.
Contract authority— The Secretary may enter into contracts and agreements with any State, institution of higher education, Federal Government agency, or person to carry out this section.