Vulnerability Assessments and Key Activity Types

FDA conducts vulnerability assessments (VA) on food systems to identify, quantify and prioritize (or rank) the vulnerabilities in a system. These assessments have led to the identification of processing steps of highest concern and potential mitigation strategies that may reduce these vulnerabilities. Through this review, it was determined that processing steps could be grouped according to the type of activity (referred to as Key Activity Types) occurring at a particular point in an operation. 

• Analysis of Results for FDA Food Defense Vulnerability Assessments and Identification of Activity Types
• Vulnerability Assessment of Food Systems

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Strategic Partnership Program Agroterrorism (SPPA)

To assist in protecting the nation’s food supply, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) developed a joint assessment program, Strategic Partnership Program - Agroterrorism (SPPA) Initiative. 

• Analysis of Results for FDA Food Defense Vulnerability Assessment and Identification of Activity Types
  April 2013 
• CARVER + Shock Primer (and in PDF)
  September 2009
• CARVER Assessments September 2005 - April 2008 Response Form
  December 2007
• SPPA Questions and Answers
  September 23, 2005
• Key Criteria for Site Visits
  August 2005
• FDA Joins Other Feds, States, Private Industry to Protect Against Agroterrorism
  July 26, 2005

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Food and Agriculture Sector

Protecting the critical infrastructure and key resources of the United States–from both deliberate terrorist attack and destructive natural events - is essential to the Nation's security, public health, safety and economic vitality.  Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9 (HSPD-9) establishes a national policy to defend the food and agriculture system against terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.

Food Defense Fact Sheet (PDF)

National Infrastructure Protection – Food and Agriculture Sector

• Protection Plan: Agriculture and Food Sector Brochure (and in PDF) May 2007
• Fact Sheet (and in PDF) May 2007

Food and Agriculture Sector Specific Plans and Annual Reports

• 2020 Food and Agriculture Sector Annual Report (PDF)
• 2015 Food and Agriculture Sector Specific Plan (PDF)
• 2011 Sector Annual Report June 2011 (PDF)
  • Attach ment A – Coordinating Council Project Summary and Select 2010/2011 Accomplishments (PDF)
  • Attachment B – Government and Sector Coordinating Council Membership (PDF)
  • Attachm ent C – National Center for Biomedical Research and Training (PDF)
• 2010 Food and Agriculture Sector Specific Plan (PDF)
• Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources Sector-Specific Plan, May 2007 (PDF)

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Food Defense Field Assignments

• Special Event Food Defense Assignment (SEFDA) Report
  March 2013
• Special Event Food Defense Assignment (SEFDA) Report
  September 2008
• Protein Surveillance Assignment (PSA) Summary Report
  June 2008
• Food Defense Surveillance Assignment (FDSA) Summary Report
  November 2007
• Summary Report: FDA Security Surveillance Assignment; October - November 2004
  December 2005