(d) FunctionsThe Secretary, acting through the program, shall—
(1)
provide for the collection, classification, preservation, and dissemination of genetic material of importance to the food and agriculture sectors of the United States;
(2)
conduct research on the genetic materials collected and on methods for storage and preservation of those materials;
(4)
unless otherwise prohibited by law, have the right to make available on request, without charge and without regard to the country from which the request originates, the genetic material that the program assembles;
(5)
expand the types of genetic resources included in the program to develop a comprehensive genetic resources program which includes plants (including silvicultural species), animal, aquatic, insect, microbiological, and other types of genetic resources of importance to food and agriculture, as resources permit;
(6)
develop and implement a national strategic germplasm and cultivar collection assessment and utilization plan that takes into consideration the resources and research necessary to address the significant backlog of characterization and maintenance of existing accessions considered to be critical to preserve the viability of, and public access to, germplasm and cultivars; and
(Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1632, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3744; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 832(a), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1168; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7205(a), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4803.)