REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

I. PURPOSE

This directive details the procedures that personnel of the Office of Data Integration and Food Protection (ODIFP), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), will follow in communicating intelligence reports when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declares a threat condition Yellow, Orange, or Red.

II. CANCELLATION

FSIS Directive 5420.5, Homeland Security Threat Condition Response Intelligence Reports and Communications, dated 10/19/06

III. REASON FOR REISSUANCE

This directive is reissued in its entirety to update the responsibilities for ODIFP and to add references to the FSIS Incident Management System.

IV. REFERENCES

9 CFR 300 to end FSIS Directive 5420.1,Homeland Security Threat Condition Response -- Food Defense Verification Procedures
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 3: Homeland Security Advisory System (HSPD- 3)

V. BACKGROUND

In 2002, Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 3 established a Homeland Security Advisory System based on Threat Condition color. This system provides a comprehensive and effective means to disseminate information regarding the risk of terrorist acts to Federal, State, and local authorities and to the American people. A declaration of a Threat Condition Elevated (Yellow) by the DHS makes clear that there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks. A declaration of a Threat Condition High (Orange) makes clear that there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. A declaration of a Threat Condition Severe (Red) reflects that there is a severe risk of terrorist attacks. HSPD 3 also prescribes that protective actions are to be taken at each threat level condition. While the threat may or may not involve the nation's food supply, it is imperative that such threat conditions be communicated effectively and expeditiously to all programs within FSIS so that each program can take appropriat e actions to respond to the threats and to ensure the security of meat, poultry and egg products.

VI. NOTIFICATION

In the event that the threat condition is raised (Yellow, Orange, or Red) by the DHS, ODIFP is to inform the FSIS Administrator and FSIS Management Council. ODIFP is to issue an e-mail letter to all employees notifying them of the heightened threat condition and asking them to share this information with employees without access to e-mail.

VII. SPECIFIC THREAT CONDITION ACTIVITIES

A. When the threat condition is raised to either Elevated (Yellow), High (Orange), or Severe (Red) with no specific threat to the food and agricultural sector, ODIFP is to:

1. Verify the change in the threat condition with the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s (USDA) Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination (OHSEC);

2. Inform the FSIS Administrator and the FSIS Management Council of the change in the threat condition;

3. Send an e-mail message to all employees on the threat condition declaration;

4. Implement procedures for the timely handling of sensitive, classified information between the USDA's OHSEC and FSIS from a variety of sources, including the DHS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Central Intelligence Agency;

5. Coordinate with USDA's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to ensure that there is a coordinated exchange of information among related Federal food, public health, and agricultural agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Defense;

6. Implement procedures to ensure a coordinated exchange of information with USDA's Office of Inspector General and Continuity of Operations (COOP) representatives;

7. Submit an Incident Report (IR) to FSIS' Incident Management System (FIMS), and alert the FSIS Emergency Management Committee (EMC); and

8. Communicate the downgrading of a threat condition to the FSIS Administrator, the FSIS Management Council, and the FSIS EMC and issue an e-mail to all other employees on the downgrading of the threat condition.

B. When the threat condition is raised to either, Elevated (Yellow) High (Orange) or Severe (Red) with a specific threat to the food and agricultural sector, ODIFP is to:

1. Conduct all applicable responsibilities under A above, and

2. Activate the EMC, and, as Incident Commander, the ODIFP EMC representative is to coordinate the Agency's response to the specific threat. Once activated the EMC will decide if access to the IR should be restricted. The EMC will also make a decision regarding additional food defense monitoring and verification activities that may be necessary.
Direct all questions related to this directive through supervisory channels.
Assistant Administrator Office of Policy and Program Development

/s/ Philip S. Derfler

Assistant Administrator
Office of Policy and Program Development