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Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis (ORACBA)

The Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis (ORACBA) was established by the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-354, H.R.4271,
Section 304).P.L. 103-354, H.R., Section 304 ORACBA began operation on April 15, 1995, in USDA's Office of the Chief Economist.

The Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis's (ORACBA) primary role is to ensure that major regulations proposed by USDA are based on sound scientific and economic analysis.

ORACBA News

ORACBA Science, Policy and Risk Forum
Dr. Jordi Serratosa of the European Food Safety Authority will present a seminar on "Procedures for the Pesticide evaluation-assessment in the EU, role of EFSA” on June 4th from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the USDA World Agriculture Board conference room (4433) of the South Agriculture Building located at 12th and Independence.  For further information and to be placed on the access list for the event, please contact Jennifer Lohr at jlohr@oce.usda.gov or 202.720.8024.

Risk analysis: Advancing Analysis Workshop
Mini-2013 SRA
The Interagency Risk Assessment Consortium (IRAC), the National Capital Area Chapter of the Society for Risk Analysis (NCAC-SRA) and the USDA Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis (ORACBA) are sponsoring a Risk Analysis: Advancing Analysis workshop consisting of a selection of presentations, from the 2012 annual meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis, including several that were unable to be presented last December.  The workshop will be held June 18th in the USDA World Agriculture Outlook Board conference room (4433) of the South Agriculture Building located at 12th and Independence Avenue in Washington, DC.  George Gray, the current president of the Society for Risk Analysis, will deliver brief opening remarks at the outset of the workshop.  We are also planning on making the workshop available as a live webcast for those who want to attend the workshop remotely.

Please contact Jennifer Lohr jlohr@oce.usda.gov (202.720.8024) to register for the live event, to participate via webinar or for further details.

New JIFSAN Courses
Food Safety Risk Analysis Training Program at the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, University of Maryland announces classes for their annual summer integrated risk analysis training program.

  • Overview of Risk Analysis - June 3
  • Food Safety Risk Management - June 4-6
  • Food Safety Risk Assessment - June 7, 10, 11
  • Food Safety Risk Communication - June 12-14
  • Quantitative Risk Assessment - June 17-21

For more information, please go to http://jifsan.umd.edu/prodev/registration/ JIFSAN Course Information
Note: JIFSAN will again be offering a fellowship to one person from a developing country. Application deadline for fellowship is due April 1, 2013. Please go to http://jifsan.umd/prodev/courses/fellowship/JIFSAN Fellowship for further information or contact Clare Narrod at CNarrod@umd.edu.

Mailing List

Join the ORACBA mailing list and receive notice of all risk forums, related activities and the monthly ORACBA Risk News/Calendar. Join by sending an e-mail to Jennifer Lohr. In the Subject line enter "Mailing List" and be sure to include your phone number and e-mail address.