Which agency is part of USDA involved in the Select Agent Program?

• A. Environmental Protection Agency
• B. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• C. Division of Select Agents and Toxins (CDC)
• D. Agriculture Select Agent Services (APHIS, USDA)

Answer: (D)

The Select Agent Program is a joint federal effort to regulate dangerous biological agents and toxins, with oversight shared by two agencies: CDC and the Agriculture Select Agent Services (ASAS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA component involved is Agriculture Select Agent Services, which operates under APHIS to oversee agricultural select agents and toxins, including registration, inspections, and security requirements for facilities handling these agents. The other options aren’t part of USDA: the Environmental Protection Agency handles environmental programs, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is an NIH institute focused on infectious disease research, and the Division of Select Agents and Toxins is a CDC unit, not USDA.