What were the criteria used to determine whether an agent or toxin should be on the USDA list?
A. In determining whether an agent or toxin should be included on the USDA list, the criteria considered include, but are not limited to: • The effect of an agent or toxin on animal or plant health or products. • The virulence of an agent or degree of toxicity of the toxin and the methods by which the agents or toxins are transferred to animals or plants . • The availability and effectiveness of medicines and vaccines to treat and prevent any illness caused by an agent or toxin. In addition, several provisions are included based on the individual needs of VS and the individual needs of PPQ. Q. What are “overlap agents”? A. Some of the agents and toxins that pose a severe threat to animal health and animal products also pose a severe threat to public health and safety. As such, these agents and toxins also appear on both the HHS and the USDA’s lists of agents and toxins and have been designated “overlap select agents and toxins” because both USDA and HHS have regulatory authority over t
