hsec-nr-thwartterrorism.stm

	NEWS RELEASE l Ohio Department of Agriculture

Governor Bob Taft Lieutenant Governor Jennette B. Bradley Director Fred L. Dailey		Communications Office 8995 East Main Street • Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 Phone: 614-752-9817 • Fax 614-466-4346 ODA URL: www.ohioagriculture.gov • e-mail: agri@odant.agri.state.oh.us

Ohio Agriculture Department Advises Agribusinesses to Take Steps to Prevent, Thwart Terrorism

REYNOLDSBURG – The Ohio Department of Agriculture is urging Ohio farmers, food processors, and other agribusinesses to enhance their security following the upgrade yesterday of the nation's and state's terrorism threat level to high, or “orange.” There has been no reported threat against agriculture or the food supply, although both could be vulnerable to sabotage by terrorists.

The department has directed its field staff to be alert for unusual incidents or signs as they inspect Ohio dairy farms, feedlots, food processors and warehouses, meat and poultry processing plants, and other agribusinesses the department routinely scrutinizes.

Working closely with other government agencies at all levels, the state agriculture department has taken several measures since September 2001 to help improve the security of the state's agriculture industry and food supply against possible terrorist attack. This includes the department's recommendations to industry operators to better safeguard their own premises and products and to all citizens to be more alert to signs of suspicious activity. For example:

• If citizens are suspicious of food tampering, they should notify local law enforcement and call the state agriculture department toll-free at 800-282-1955.

• Producers and processors should take physical security measures such as inspecting all visitor vehicles and escorting all visitors to their facilities.

• Livestock and poultry producers should keep unauthorized visitors out of animal production facilities to help prevent the spread of animal diseases, whether there is a disease threat or not. Authorized persons should be required to wear protective clothing and shoes before entering a facility.

• Livestock and poultry producers and veterinarians should be alert for signs of infectious foreign animal diseases, check their animals daily for symptoms, and report suspicious symptoms to ODA by calling 800-300-9755 toll-free.

• Fertilizer dealers should report suspicious purchases of or attempts to purchase ammonium nitrate or urea to the FBI. Fertilizer and pesticide dealers should keep their goods well secured and inventoried.

• All agribusinesses and food establishments should conduct background checks on employees, pay close attention to product inventories and shipments, and report all suspicious activities, vehicles, or persons around their property.

NEWS RELEASE l Ohio Department of Agriculture

Communications Office