The Animal and Plant

Health Inspection

Service International

Visitor Program at

Riverside

The volume of agricultural trade and the complexity

of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues surrounding trade are increasing every year. The U.S.

Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has established

the International Visitor Program and SPS Outreach

Initiative to address the growing need for a strengthened network with international counterpart organizations to better exchange animal and plant health

information with regard to trade.

The fundamental role of the Program is to 

support USDA's efforts to work with trading partners

to develop and establish internationally accepted

standards for the safe and fair movement of plant and

animal commodities. The harmonization of import

and export regulations and of disease– and 

pest–surveillance methodologies is essential to minimize risks in international trade. APHIS believes that

by encouraging and enhancing the animal and plant

health infrastructure development of our trading partners through training, orientation, and education, the

Agency can promote fair trade worldwide and protect

American agriculture.

The Visitor Center

The Visitor Center at Riverside is located in the

APHIS headquarters building in Riverdale, MD. The

Riverside Center is the central location to receive

APHIS international scientists, agricultural regulatory

officials, and other agricultural personnel affiliated

with USDA. The staff provides assistance with training and orientation programs, requests for consultant

service, internships, and information exchanges on

SPS–related subjects.

The SPS Resource Laboratory

The SPS resource laboratory is located in the

APHIS Information Center and has information on

SPS topics, USDA and APHIS organizational structures, APHIS position papers, briefings, and learning

modules on SPS–related subjects. Self–paced learning modules provide basic SPS concepts on international standards and organizations and how the

United States interprets those standards for its own

SPS system. The laboratory resources are available

to international scientists to conduct research while in

this country.

The Outreach Program

The outreach program provides APHIS and

USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) field

employees with resources to address SPS issues

and share information. These resources are shared

with in–country counterparts and other collaborators

as necessary. Learning modules on specific SPS

issues exist in a variety of forms, such as active or

static video, text, and Web– or computer–based 

modules, for delivery to diverse audiences.

USDA International Contacts

APHIS and FAS foreign service attachés are

generally aware of all officials traveling from their

respective countries to USDA headquarters regarding

SPS issues. These foreign service officers are the

primary point of contact for all international visitors to

USDA headquarters and should inform the APHIS

International Visitor Program and appropriate USDA

officials of impending visits. Based on shared objectives by APHIS and the visitors, programs can then

be developed to meet their specific training requirements.

Training requests. In an effort to strengthen cooperation with U.S. trading partners, APHIS provides

and hosts various training, orientation, and education

to international visitors. The following list includes

some examples of requests received.

Orientation trips for international government

officials. The purpose and format for these visits

can vary greatly. Visits can be arranged to APHIS

offices (both at headquarters and in the field), other

USDA agencies, the Department of State, colleges

and universities, private industry facilities, laboratories, production areas, and farms.

Consultant services. The purpose of these

requests is primarily to educate, train, or jointly 

conduct research. Consultant services usually take

place in another country. For example, the consultant

could assist in survey design and evaluations of

another country's quarantine system, processes,

facilities, or equipment.

Factsheet

International Services September 2003

APHIS
Informational materials. These requests are primarily for information or materials to conduct training.

The course materials are available in English. There

are no restrictions on translation or distribution of

these materials.

Education. This request is more formal and takes

place at a specific institution established to conduct

training, such as a college or university.

Performance-based training. International scientists

can attend courses at APHIS' Professional

Development Center in Frederick, MD. Courses

include the plant health system analysis course and

other SPS related training.

Language. International visitors wishing to participate in the International Visitor Program and SPS

Outreach Initiative should be proficient in English. If

an interpreting service is required, arrangements must

be made through the visitor’s embassy prior to their

visit.

Inquiries

For information about the APHIS International

Visitor Program and SPS Outreach Initiative contact:

Linda Small, Program Director

APHIS International Visitor Program

USDA–APHIS

4700 River Road

Riverdale, MD 20737

E-mail: linda.small@aphis.usda.gov

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative

means for communication of program information (Braille, large

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture