www.fda.gov www.usda.gov 1 May 20, 2020

Food and Agriculture: Considerations for Prioritization 

of PPE, Cloth Face Coverings, Disinfectants, and 

Sanitation Supplies During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to share recommendations for addressing shortages of personal protective 

equipment (PPE), cloth face coverings,1

 disinfectants, and sanitation supplies in the food and agriculture 

industry in order to help maintain employee safety, continuity of the food supply, food safety, and employee/

consumer confidence.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused shortages in PPE, cloth face coverings, disinfectants, and sanitation 

supplies. Some food production stakeholders face challenges procuring adequate materials due to increased 

demand across all economic sectors and the disruption of traditional supply chains. These challenges 

may, in turn, cause interruptions in the food supply chain. Disruptions to the supply of food and agricultural 

commodities or the inputs needed to produce them, however minor, can cause significant ripple effects through 

all nodes in the supply chain, from growers and suppliers through processors and distributors to retailers. 

Accordingly, the FDA and USDA has developed the following recommendations, taking into account input from 

the Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council.2

Prioritization Recommendations

As PPE, cloth face coverings, disinfectants, and sanitation supplies become available, it is highly encouraged 

that available supplies be distributed with first priority to the following industries: 

1. Hospitals, healthcare, long-term care, retirement homes, hospice, and other healthcare-providing 

establishments and the emergency responder community.

2. The Food and Agriculture Sector (as well as the other Critical Infrastructure Sectors), including food 

manufacturers/producers, suppliers of agricultural inputs and facilities that store, process and/or market 

agricultural products, grocery stores, food retail, food service, and food storage and distribution.

Note: Food and Agriculture Sector entities should follow guidance provided in the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency fact sheet, entitled Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Addressing PPE Needs in 

Non-Healthcare Setting, when considering their PPE requirements. All efforts should be made to identify 

alternatives to medical-grade PPE3

 (such as N95 respirators), disinfectants, and/or sanitation supplies critically 

needed by the Healthcare and Public Health and Emergency Services sectors. Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA) information may be helpful when assessing appropriate PPE. 

Sourcing of PPE, Cloth Face Coverings, Disinfectants, and Sanitation Supplies

Sector entities can apply the following considerations when attempting to source supplies:

• Continue working with normal and alternate private-sector suppliers to obtain PPE, cloth face coverings, 

disinfectants, and sanitation supplies. It may be necessary to identify multiple options for suppliers and 

prioritize near-term versus long-term needs.

• If suppliers are unable to provide for your needs, and the PPE and/or cloth face coverings are urgently 

required, submit a request for assistance to your state emergency management agencies. If the state 

is unable to address the PPE and/or cloth face covering shortfall, the state should submit a request for 

support to their FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center.

1 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and to help people 

who are unaware they have the virus from spreading it to others. FDA developed, in collaboration with CDC, a quick reference guide to respirators, 

masks, or cloth face coverings potentially worn by workers in the Food and Agriculture Sector. 

2 The Food and Agriculture Sector is one of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors, and workers within the sector are included in the Guidance on the 

Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce, Revision 3.1. 3 Defined in the “Memorandum on Allocating Certain Scarce or Threatened Health and Medical Resources to Domestic Use” as: (a) N95 Filtering 

Facepiece Respirators; (b) other filtering facepiece respirators; (c) Elastomeric, air-purifying respirators and appropriate particulate filters/cartridges; 

(d) PPE surgical masks, including masks that cover the user’s nose and mouth and provide a physical barrier to fluids and particulate materials; and 

(e) PPE gloves or surgical gloves, including those defined at 21 CFR 880.6250 (exam gloves) and 878.4460 (surgical gloves) and such gloves intended 

for the same purposes.
www.fda.gov www.usda.gov 2 May 20, 2020

Food and Agriculture: Considerations for Prioritization of PPE, Cloth Face Coverings, Disinfectants, and Sanitation 

Supplies During the COVID-19 Pandemic continued

Any requests to state or federal agencies for urgent resupply of PPE for essential critical infrastructure 

workers should accurately describe:

• specific types, quantities (include 30-, 60- and 90-day demand), and locations where PPE is needed; 

• estimated time until the shortage impacts operations based on PPE burn rate;4 and

• consequence of the shortage on the supply of food, agricultural commodities or agricultural inputs, and 

anticipated duration of its impact.

To further support these requests, you may also describe how the request helps you to:

• comply with worker safety and health laws, regulations or guidance (including those issued by OSHA); and 

• abide by Federal, State, and Local requirements or recommendations to ensure food safety or evolving 

consumer/employee confidence guidance for COVID-19.

When ordering PPE, cloth face coverings, disinfectants, and/or sanitation supplies, Sector entities can:

• identify themselves as members of one of the critical infrastructure sectors, specifically the Food and 

Agriculture Sector;

• include a copy of this document, which reflects both the scarcity of, and need for, PPE, cloth face 

coverings, disinfectants and/or sanitation supplies within the Food and Agriculture Sector; and

• consult the websites provided below:

 – International Safety Equipment Association buyer’s guide, 

 – Sanitary Suppliers Wholesale Association, and

 – ISSA buyer’s guide.

5

4 The CDC PPE burn rate calculator may be a useful tool to assist in this process. 5 These sources may not be all-inclusive. Additional resources may be available from other entities.