---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 U.S.C. § 399c"
title: "21"
title_heading: "Food and Drugs"
number: "399c"
heading: "Improving the training of State, local, territorial, and tribal food safety officials"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/21/399c"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act"
  - "Subchapter X — Miscellaneous"
---

# §399c. Improving the training of State, local, territorial, and tribal food safety officials

- (a) **Training—** The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall set standards and administer training and education programs for the employees of [State](/usc/21/321.md?p=a-1), local, territorial, and tribal [food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) safety officials relating to the regulatory responsibilities and policies established by this chapter, including programs for—
  - (1) scientific training;
  - (2) training to improve the skill of officers and employees [authorized](/usc/21/360eee.md?p=2) to conduct inspections under sections [372](/usc/21/372.md) and [374](/usc/21/374.md) of this title;
  - (3) training to achieve advanced [product](/usc/21/360eee.md?p=13) or process specialization in such inspections;
  - (4) training that addresses best practices;
  - (5) training in administrative process and procedure and integrity issues;
  - (6) training in appropriate sampling and laboratory analysis methodology; and
  - (7) training in building enforcement actions following inspections, examinations, testing, and investigations.
- (b) **Partnerships with State and local officials—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d), pursuant to a contract or memorandum of understanding between the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) and the head of a [State](/usc/21/321.md?p=a-1), local, territorial, or tribal [department](/usc/21/321.md?p=c) or agency, is [authorized](/usc/21/360eee.md?p=2) and encouraged to conduct examinations, testing, and investigations for the purposes of determining compliance with the [food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) safety provisions of this chapter through the officers and employees of such [State](/usc/21/321.md?p=a-1), local, territorial, or tribal [department](/usc/21/321.md?p=c) or agency.
  - (2) **Content—** A contract or memorandum described under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall include provisions to ensure adequate training of such officers and employees to conduct such examinations, testing, and investigations. The contract or memorandum shall contain provisions regarding reimbursement. Such provisions may, at the sole discretion of the head of the other [department](/usc/21/321.md?p=c) or agency, require reimbursement, in whole or in part, from the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) for the examinations, testing, or investigations performed pursuant to this section by the officers or employees of the [State](/usc/21/321.md?p=a-1), territorial, or tribal [department](/usc/21/321.md?p=c) or agency.
  - (3) **Effect—** Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) under [section 372 of this title](/usc/21/372.md).
- (c) **Extension service—** The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall ensure coordination with the extension activities of the National Institute of [Food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) and Agriculture of the [Department](/usc/21/321.md?p=c) of Agriculture in advising producers and small processors transitioning into new practices required as a result of the enactment of the FDA [Food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) Safety Modernization Act and assisting regulated industry with compliance with such Act.
- (d) **National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach and Technical Assistance Program—**
  - (1) **In general—** In order to improve [food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) safety and reduce the incidence of foodborne illness, the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall, not later than 180 days after January 4, 2011, enter into one or more memoranda of understanding, or enter into other cooperative agreements, with the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) of Agriculture to establish a competitive grant program within the National Institute for [Food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) and Agriculture to provide [food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance to—
    - (A) owners and operators of farms;
    - (B) small [food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) processors; and
    - (C) small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.
  - (2) **Implementation—** The competitive grant program established under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) shall be carried out in accordance with [section 7625 of title 7](/usc/7/7625.md).
- (e) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are [authorized](/usc/21/360eee.md?p=2) to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

## Source credit

(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, § 1012, formerly § 1011, as added Pub. L. 111–353, title II, § 209(a), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3945; renumbered § 1012, Pub. L. 114–255, div. A, title III, § 3073(b)(2), Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1137.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is Pub. L. 111–353, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3885, which enacted chapter 27 (§ 2201 et seq.) and sections 350g to 350l–1, 379j–31, 384a to 384d, 399c, and 399d of this title, section 7625 of Title 7, Agriculture, and section 280g–16 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, amended sections 331, 333, 334, 350b to 350d, 350f, 374, 381, 393, and 399 of this title and section 247b–20 of Title 42, and enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 331, 334, 342, 350b, 350d, 350e, 350g to 350j, 350l, and 381 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2201 of this title and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1012 of act June 25, 1938, was renumbered section 1013 and is classified to section 399d of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Construction

Nothing in this section to be construed to apply to certain alcohol-related facilities, to alter jurisdiction and authorities established under certain other Acts, or in a manner inconsistent with international agreements to which the United States is a party, see sections 2206, 2251, and 2252 of this title.