In service to U.S. agriculture and the American people, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) enforces numerous laws and is committed to doing so effectively and transparently. I am pleased to tell you today about a new resource that makes frequently requested enforcement information readily and consistently available to the public.   

APHIS’ Investigative and Enforcement Services (IES) unit makes possible our Agency’s enforcement of 10 U.S. laws covering a broad range of issues. With roughly 140 employees stationed in locations across the United States, IES provides critical support to APHIS’ four regulatory programs—Animal Care, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, Plant Protection and Quarantine, and Veterinary Services—as well as to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its agricultural quarantine inspection (AQI) activities. IES conducts thorough investigations and works with program personnel to analyze evidence and determine appropriate enforcement actions informed by provisions in the governing statutes.

Now on IES’ Web site, you will find summaries and data outlining enforcement actions for fiscal year (FY) 2014 and, as of mid-year, FY 2015, for the Agency as a whole, as well as for each of the Agency’s programs and for AQI activities. We will update these numbers at the end of FY 2015 and biannually thereafter. The addition of the new enforcement performance metrics online will make frequently requested stakeholder information available to the public on the Agency’s Web site. By highlighting and providing round-the-clock public access to the data, we are increasing transparency and being responsive to stakeholders’ interests. We also believe that providing this type of enforcement data regularly and publicly will further serve to deter those who may consider violating APHIS-enforced statutes.

As Administrator of an Agency that is committed to listening to stakeholders and continually improving its services, I invite you to visit IES’ Web site to review the newly available enforcement data and learn more about IES’ important role in carrying out our Agency’s mission.