SCON 11 IS

Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the fair and equitable implementation of the amendments made by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996.

February 12, 1999

Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. CONRAD, Mr. BROWNBACK, Mr. FRIST, Mr. GRAMM, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mrs. HUTCHISON, and Ms. LANDRIEU) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the fair and equitable implementation of the amendments made by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996.

Whereas the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-170; 110 Stat. 1489) was enacted with unanimous congressional approval and with the assistance and leadership of a broad coalition of agricultural, industry, and public interest groups;

Whereas the amendments made by that Act are intended to be an important tool in protecting public health, particularly the health and well-being of the most valuable resource of the United States, the children of the United States;

Whereas it is critical that the amendments made by that Act be implemented in a way that accomplishes the intent of Congress while maintaining an abundant, affordable, and safe food supply for the United States, ensuring urban pest control, and not unfairly providing competitive advantages to foreign food suppliers over domestic producers;

Whereas the amendments made by that Act require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop risk assessment methodologies that are based on reliable information and to undertake a massive review of all approved pesticide tolerances;

Whereas on August 4, 1997, the Administrator published a schedule for reassessment of more than 3,000 tolerances by August 3, 1999, that could include certain classes of products that are extensively used;

Whereas the sudden loss of uses and products could both economically cripple a host of agricultural commodities, including corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, cotton, and dozens of fruit and vegetable crops and create a public health threat to the urban environment from the unchecked infestation of insects; and

Whereas it is critical that the amendments made by that Act be implemented in a fair and equitable manner, and that the protections be implemented while maintaining an abundant, affordable, and safe food supply for the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that the implementation of the amendments made by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-170; 110 Stat. 1489)--

(A) be based on sound science that protects public health;

(B) include transparent processes with full disclosure of decisions and be subject to peer and public review;

(C) provide for a reasonable transition for agriculture; and

(D) require consultation with the public and other agencies;

(2) the development of risk assessment methodologies, guidelines, and protocols for collection of data under the amendments made by that Act be based on sound science and not default assumptions in the absence of reliable data;

(3) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency should devote sufficient resources to register new pesticide products and uses to provide effective substitutes for pesticides that may be considered high risk under the amendments made by that Act; and

(4) the Administrator should establish ongoing means for input regarding the implementation decisions of the Administrator with respect to that Act from producers, pesticide users, registrants, environmental and public health groups, consumers, State and local agencies, tribal governments, Members of Congress, and appropriate Federal agencies.

END