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Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is to safeguard the public and support Florida's agricultural economy by:
Ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of food and other consumer products through inspection and testing programs;
Protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices and providing consumer information;
Assisting Florida's farmers and agricultural industries with the production and promotion of agricultural products; and
Conserving and protecting the state's agricultural and natural resources by reducing wildfires, promoting environmentally safe agricultural practices, and managing public lands.
SART REPRESENTATIVES:
Greg Christy
401 S Calhoun St
Tallahassee,
FL
32399
850 410-0900
, Fax 352-410-0946
christg@doacs.state.fl.us
Steve Hildebrandt
PO Box 147100
Gainesville,
FL
32614-7100
352 372-3505
, Fax 352-955-2301
hildebs@doacs.state.fl.us
Art Johnstone
FL
850 410-6758
johnsta@doacs.state.fl.us
David Perry
125 se 160 st
Summerfield,
FL
34491
352 572-3397
, Fax 352-245-6505
perryda@doacs.state.fl.us
ADDITIONAL AGENCY INFORMATION:
Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement
Terry L. Rhodes Building
2005 Apalachee Parkway, Ste 222
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-245-1300, Fax 850-245-1330
After hours emergencies contact Ag Law at 1-800-342-5869.
http://www.fl-aglaw.com/default.html
The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement is dedicated to protecting Florida's agriculture and its consumers through professional law enforcement. The Bureau of Investigative Services handles cases involving unfair and deceptive trade practices against consumers, theft and related crimes against the state?s agricultural industry, food safety, wildland arson investigations and protection of the state?s natural resources. The Department?s Bureau of Uniformed Services operates 22 agricultural interdiction stations located on every paved highway, crossing the natural boundary of the Suwannee and St. Mary?s Rivers. Agricultural vehicle inspections are conducted at each location around the clock, 365 days a year, by 175 law enforcement personnel. These Department officers conduct inspections of highway shipments of agricultural, horticultural, aquacultural and livestock commodities. The Bureau of Special Operations deploys new and aggressive technologies at the interdiction stations. These technoligies include mobile Vehicle And Cargo Inspection System (VACIS) trucks which scan live images of commercial vehicles and containers and Detection Canine Teams which detect various meat and plant material that may harbor infectious disease and/or plant diseases which could devastate Florida?s agricultural industries.
Office of Agricultural Water Policy
1203 Governors Square Blvd.
Suite 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-488-6249, Fax 850-921-2153
http://www.floridaagwaterpolicy.com/
The Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) was established in 1995 by the Florida Legislature to facilitate communications among federal, state, local agencies, and the agricultural industry on water quantity and water quality issues involving agriculture. In this effort, the OAWP is actively involved in the development of Best Management Practices (BMPs), addressing both water quality and water conservation on a site specific, regional, and watershed basis.
Office of Bio & Food Security Preparedness
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
850-410-6756, Fax 850-410-6755
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/bio_food/index.html
The Office of Bio and Food Security Preparedness helps protect Florida's citizens in regard to agroterrorism, bio-security, food security, and domestic security issues. The office coordinates Department preparedness activities by serving as liaison between divisions, offices, and programs. The office also coordinates with local, state and federal agencies, private and government laboratories, and agriculture and food-related industries.
Office of Inspector General (OIG)
Terry Lee Rhodes Building
2005 Apalachee Parkway
Suite E
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-6500
850-245-1360, Fax 850-245-1370
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/oig/
The vision for OIG is to excel in auditing, departmental entity accountability, and internal investigations so as to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction.. The office's mission is to protect and promote public integrity and accountability within the Department through audits that detect fraud, waste and abuse and the investigation of criminal and administrative violations.
Division of Administration
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
850-488-3022
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/admin/index.html
The Division of Administration handles the administrative functions of the Department and reports to the Office of the Commissioner. Its responsibilities range from personnel management, employee training, fiscal operations, and budgetary planning, to computer technology, telecommunications, purchasing, and mail room and print shop operations.
Division of Ag-Environmental Services
3125 Conner Boulevard, Suite F
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
850-488-3731, Fax 850-488-2164
http://www.flaes.org/index.html
The Division of Agricultural Environmental Services administers various state and federal regulatory programs concerning environmental and consumer protection issues. These include state mosquito control program coordination; agricultural pesticide registration, testing and regulation; pest control regulation; and feed, seed and fertilizer production inspection and testing. The Division of Agricultural Environmental Services, through its four bureaus, ensures that: pesticides are properly registered and used in accordance with federal and state requirements; mosquito control programs are effectively conducted; and feed, seed and fertilizer products are safe and effective.
Division of Animal Industry
407 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
850-410-0900, Fax 850-410-0957
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/index.shtml
The Division of Animal Industry is responsible for enforcing animal health regulations in Florida and protecting the state from animal pests and diseases, which have a major economic and public health consequence. The state veterinarian has important responsibilities in protecting the health and welfare of all animal resources. The sale of Florida livestock and related products totaled over $1.1 billion in 1995, accounting for nearly 20 percent of Florida farm cash receipts. Florida is an important animal resource state, ranking 10th in beef cows and 15th in milk production and dairy cows. Florida also has more than 335,000 horses throughout the state and in the thoroughbred and quarterhorse industries, with expanding aquaculture, ostrich, emu, deer and other food species, in addition to a large companion-animal industry.
Division of Aquaculture
1203 Governors Square Boulevard
Fifth Floor
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-488-5471, Fax 850-410-0893
http://www.floridaaquaculture.com/index.htm
The Division plays a key role in the regulation of aquaculture facilities and shellfish processing plants, is responsible for opening/closing of shellfish harvesting waters to protect human health, ensures the continued productivity of oyster reefs through a restoration program and issues leases of submerged state lands for aquaculture.
Division of Consumer Services
Terry Rhodes Building
2005 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, FL 32399-6500
850-922-2966
http://www.800helpfla.com/index.html
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services functions as the state's clearinghouse for consumer complaints. They assist consumers with information, protection and complaints, regardless of whether we regulate that particular industry. They make every possible effort to assist consumers by directing them to the appropriate federal, state or county agency. Our toll-free Florida only hotline, 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) for Spanish speaking consumers has full-time analysts manning the phones.
Division of Dairy Industry
3125 Conner Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida
32399-1650
850-487-1450, Fax 850-277-1450
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/dairy/index.html
The Division of Dairy Industry ensures that dairy products purchased by Florida consumers are wholesome, produced under sanitary conditions, and correctly labeled. The Division regulates the production, transporting, processing, distribution, and labeling of milk and milk products. It establishes standards for these products, whether they originate in Florida or other states.
Division of Food Safety
3125 Conner Boulevard, Suite D
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650
850-245-5520, Fax: 850-245-5553
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/fs/index.html
The Division of Food Safety is responsible for assuring the public of a safe, wholesome and properly represented food supply through permitting and inspection of food establishments, inspection of food products, and performance of specialized laboratory analyses on a variety of food products sold or produced in the state. The Division monitors food from farm gate through processing and distribution to the retail point of purchase. The Division is charged with administration and enforcement of the food and poultry and egg laws, and also provides support in the enforcement of other food safety laws.
Division of Forestry
3125 Conner Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida
32399-1650
850-488-4274, Fax: 850-488-0863
http://www.fl-dof.com/index.html
The Division is made up of 1250 dedicated employees with the mission to protect and manage the forest resources of Florida, ensuring they are available for future generations. Wildfire prevention and suppression are key components in our efforts to protect homeowners from the threat of damage in a natural environment that is fire dependent. They are dedicated to training individuals to meet these goals. In addition to managing nearly a million acres of state forests for multiple public uses including timber, recreation and wildlife habitat, they also provide services to landowners throughout the state with technical information and grant programs.
Division of Fruit and Vegetables
500 3rd Street NW
Winter Haven, Florida
33881-3403
863-291-5820, Fax: 863-298-7860
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/fruits/index.html
The Division of Fruit and Vegetables administers rules that regulate standards, grades and marketing orders for various fruit and vegetable commodities to include citrus, limes, avocados, peanuts and tomatoes.
Division of Licensing
Post Office Box 6687
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6687
850-245-5499, Fax: 850-245-5505
http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/index.html
The Division of Licensing consists of 139 positions with an annual budget of $11 million that is totally funded by licensing fees and assessments. It is the responsibility of the Division to protect the public from unethical business practices on the part of persons providing private security, private investigative and recovery services to the public through licensure and regulation of those industries pursuant to Chapter 493, Florida Statutes.
Division of Marketing and Development
Mayo Building
407 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800
850-488-4031, Fax: 850-922-2861
http://www.florida-agriculture.com/index.htm
The Division of Marketing and Development's job is to promote Florida's agricultural products and expand markets for our state's growers. This is increasingly important in today's competitive global economy. Agriculture is an important part of our state's heritage and economy. Florida is one of America's leading agricultural states, producing a wide range of commodities. Florida's 44,000 farmers produce more than 280 different crops on a commercial scale with yearly cash receipts totaling $7 billion. Florida agriculture has an economic impact estimated at more than $62 billion annually.
Division of Plant Industry
PO Box 147100
Gainesville, FL 32614-7100
888-397-1517
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/index.html
The Division of Plant Industry is a regulatory agency of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services which works to detect, intercept and control plant and honey bee pests that threaten Florida's native plant and agricultural resources.
Division of Standards
3125 Conner Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida
32399-1650
850-488-0645, Fax: 850-922-8971
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/standard/index.html
The Division of Standards protects consumers from unfair and unsafe business practices across a wide range of products, including gasoline, brake fluid, antifreeze, liquefied petroleum gas, amusement rides and weighing and measuring devices. The Division of Standards also investigates complaints alleging violations of Florida's Motor Fuel Marketing Practices Act.