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6 USC § 321q - Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t6/s321q"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "6 USC § 321q - Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism"
title_number: 6
title_name: "DOMESTIC SECURITY"
section_number: "321q"
section_name: "Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism"
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 107–296, title V, § 528, as added Pub. L. 115–43, § 2(a), June 30, 2017, 131 Stat. 884; amended Pub. L. 115–387, § 2(f)(5), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5168.)"
---

# § 321q. Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism

**(a)** **Program required** The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, shall carry out a program to coordinate the Department’s efforts related to defending the food, agriculture, and veterinary systems of the United States against terrorism and other high-consequence events that pose a high risk to homeland security.

**(b)** **Program elements** The coordination program required by subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:

**(1)** Providing oversight and management of the Department’s responsibilities pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9–Defense of United States Agriculture and Food.

**(2)** Providing oversight and integration of the Department’s activities related to veterinary public health, food defense, and agricultural security.

**(3)** Leading the Department’s policy initiatives relating to food, animal, and agricultural incidents, and the impact of such incidents on animal and public health.

**(4)** Leading the Department’s policy initiatives relating to overall domestic preparedness for and collective response to agricultural terrorism.

**(5)** Coordinating with other Department components, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as appropriate, on activities related to food and agriculture security and screening procedures for domestic and imported products.

**(6)** Coordinating with appropriate Federal departments and agencies.

**(7)** Other activities as determined necessary by the Secretary.

**(c)** **Rule of construction** Nothing in this section may be construed as altering or superseding the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 107–296, title V, § 528, as added Pub. L. 115–43, § 2(a), June 30, 2017, 131 Stat. 884; amended Pub. L. 115–387, § 2(f)(5), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5168.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a).  substituted “the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office,” for “Health Affairs,”.