CSEPP.ORG

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) provides leadership, service, and regulatory functions for food production and processing. The Director of the Department is appointed by the Governor. A ten-member State Board of Agriculture, also appointed by the Governor, serves as advisory to the Director. ODA is divided into nine divisions that oversee 36 chapters of Oregon laws. After a CSEPP chemical agent release ODA has regulatory authority to protect the public by using Detention, Seizure and Embargo Statues. The following Oregon Revised Statues (ORS) provides the ODA Food Safety Division (FSD) the authority to detain, seize and embargo food commodities.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), with the assistance of local incident command (IC), will establish a Food/Crop/Livestock Embargo and Stop Movement Area for all food and agricultural products within the AEGL I Risk Envelope.   No food products will be allowed to enter or leave the restricted area. To better describe and enforce the embargo area, clearly definable features such as roads, rivers, rail lines and topographic features will be used to establish the zone’s boundaries.  This boundary may well encompass more terrain than the AEGL I Risk Envelope.

 ODA will activate the Oregon Animals in Disaster Response Pan to coordinate the response of state and local government agencies and volunteer organizations to address the needs of companion animals, livestock, poultry and captive wildlife during disasters.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture, in coordination with local authorities, will establish and enforce a policy for distressed pets, companion animals, and livestock. 

ODA, with input from local authorities, state and federal agencies, will advice the IC regarding a policy for the re-introduction of manufactured foods, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, goats, buffalo, lamas, pond raised fish, and poultry regarding introduction of meat, dairy, and egg products into the human food chain.

The ODEQ, OPHD, ODFW, and ODA shall jointly advise the MAC Group on all issues including determination of standards for decontamination of public and private property and proper disposal of contaminated items, and disposition of domestic and wildlife animal carcasses.  Owners of public and private property within the AEGL I Risk Envelope may request that their property be decontaminated to the standard established by OSDPH/EPA. 

 
Oregon Department of Agriculture

Job Action Sheet

Incident Coordination Actions

• ODA will assist the IC by providing information on locations of agricultural food establishments and processors and direct staff to contact milk and food producers and processor in the affected areas.   Notify them that samples will be taken and that protective measures should be instituted and consistent with the advisory received from the Operations. Ensure ODA Public Affairs will coordinate with the Oregon Public Health Division and Umatilla County JIC that all emergency related messages will be coordinated before providing to any members of the public.  That all advisories, embargoes, quarantines, stop movement orders etc., are worded the same to all recipients.  This is intended to avoid conflicting instructional messages and the introduction of rumors and false information and  misinterpretation of instructions.
• Coordinate with the Oregon Public Health Division to make regular assessments of sampling data and will provide advice to adjust the advisories and/or notices of embargo or quarantine as necessary, until all products are either deemed safe for consumption or are destroyed.
• In collaboration with local incident command, issue notice of embargoes, quarantines and stop movement orders.
• Provide ODA Food Safety Specialists to duty stations at Food Control Points, identified by the IC or Off-Site Coordination Center.
• Provide ODA liaisons to the IC, Off-Site Coordination Center and MAC Group and State ECC as required.
• Assist in the assignment of personnel to transmit guidance letter(s), protective action advisories and/or notices of embargo via FAX, commercial telephone, letters, and/or personal visits to dairies, fruit and vegetable growers, food processors and bulk haulers (after release of such information and instructions have been approved by the ODA Director, and coordinated, when necessary with the Umatilla County JIC). 
• Coordinate with the IC and Umatilla County JIC in advance of release, the specific language ODA will use on embargo/quarantine/stop movement notices and forms.
• Concur with the IC in determining the Food Control Area Boundary.
• Ensure that appropriate federal assets are requested, such as the Advisory Team for Environment, Food and Health, to support the agriculture mission.
• Make the recommendation to not pick up milk from dairies within the Food Control Boundary.
• Arrange or verify that blanket embargo/quarantine notices have been faxed to counties who are within the Food Control Boundary.
• Establish contact with all affected county extension agents to determine crops in season and coordinated information flow.
• Advise on the locations of fresh produce in season, harvesting period for current row crops and the locations of processing plants.
• Assist in the developing an Agricultural Advisory Area Boundaries and Food Control Boundary recommendations.