Which statement about the Foreign Agricultural Service is true?

• A. It is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• B. It is part of the World Trade Organization
• C. It oversees domestic food safety inspections
• D. It regulates pesticide residues in imported foods

Answer: (A)

The key idea is understanding where the Foreign Agricultural Service fits and what it does. The Foreign Agricultural Service is a bureau of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and its main role is to support international trade in U.S. agricultural products—gathering market data, promoting exports, and assisting with market access. It is not an entity of the World Trade Organization, which is an international organization outside of U.S. government agencies. It does not handle domestic food safety inspections, which are the purview of agencies like the FDA and FSIS, nor does it regulate pesticide residues in foods—that responsibility lies with the EPA (tolerances) and FDA enforcement. Because of this, the statement that it is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is the accurate description.