Aflatoxin Food Safety Act of 1989

Aflatoxin Food Safety Act of 1989 - Amends the United States Grain Standards Act to provide for aflatoxin contamination testing of all corn shipped in foreign commerce.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) indemnify corn producers for aflatoxin contamination losses due to 1988 or 1989 weather or related conditions; (2) establish standardized testing equipment and procedures; and (3) conduct related research.

 
HR 2641 IH
101st CONGRESS
1st Session
 H. R. 2641
To remove aflatoxin contaminated corn in the 1988 or 1989 corn crop from
the food chain, to provide indemnification to producers of such corn, and to
assure foreign and domestic markets of U.S. corn a safe, high quality product.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 14, 1989
Mr. JONTZ (for himself, Mr. GLICKMAN, Mr. EVANS, and Mr. SCHUETTE) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To remove aflatoxin contaminated corn in the 1988 or 1989 corn crop from
the food chain, to provide indemnification to producers of such corn, and to
assure foreign and domestic markets of U.S. corn a safe, high quality product.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  This Act may be cited as the `Aflatoxin Food Safety Act of 1989'.
SEC. 2. TESTING FOR AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION OF CORN SHIPPED IN FOREIGN
COMMERCE.
  Section 4 of the United States Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 76) is amended
  by inserting at the end thereof the following new subsection:
  `(d) The Administrator is authorized and directed to require that all
  corn shipped in foreign commerce be tested to ascertain whether it exceeds
  acceptable levels of aflatoxin contamination.'.
SEC. 3. INDEMNIFICATION.
  (a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Agriculture shall make indemnity payments
  to producers of corn who, because of damaging weather or related conditions
  in 1988 or 1989, suffer financial loss because of aflatoxin contamination.
  (b) PAYMENT RATE- (1) The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a
  series of payment rates by determining the difference between the average
  market price for uncontaminated corn and the maximum fair market value for
  aflatoxin-contaminated corn at various permissible levels of contamination,
  as determined by the Secretary.
  (2) Producers with corn contaminated with aflatoxin in excess of 300 parts
  per billion will be eligible for indemnification at the fair market price
  if the corn is destroyed.
SEC. 4. DOMESTIC TESTING STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES.
  (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDIZED TESTING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES- The
  Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Federal
  Grain Inspection Service, shall--
  (1) establish uniform standards for testing equipment; and
  (2) establish uniform testing procedures and sampling techniques;
to be used by grain elevators, terminals, processors, refiners, and others
to accurately detect the level of aflatoxin contamination of corn in the
United States.
  (b) REASONABLE ASSURANCE OF ADEQUACY OF TESTING- Within 180 days after
  the establishment of the uniform standards and procedures described in
  subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide reasonable
  assurance to Congress that testing of corn at its point of first sale to
  grain elevators, terminals, processors, or refiners is adequate to detect
  contamination by aflatoxin and that corn contaminated with unacceptable
  levels of aflatoxin is removed from commercial markets.
SEC. 5. RESEARCH.
  The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct research to ascertain safe levels
  of aflatoxin in the food and feed chains and safe methods of handling,
  storing, detoxifying, and disposing of aflatoxin-contaminated grain.