Congressional Research Service Reports - 490 Matching Results

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The Delaney Dilemma: Regulating Pesticide Residues in Foods -- Seminar Proceedings, March 16, 1993: A provision in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Delaney Clause, appears to lower risks in the setting of tolerances for pesticide residues. It prohibits any substance from being added to processed foods if it induces cancer in man or animals. In reality, the provision created a dilemma because the zero-risk statute makes it difficult to regulate pesticides. Because of the prescription of Delaney, tolerances (legal limits) are established differently for carcinogens and non-carcinogens and in raw and processed foods.
The Delaney Clause: The Dilemma of Regulating Health Risk for Pesticide Residues: Under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for establishing tolerances for pesticide residues in or on foods and feeds. Tolerances are legal limits to the amount of pesticide residues that can be found on a raw agricultural commodity at the farm gate or in a processed food. The FFDCA has two sections, 408 and 409, which set up different and inconsistent criteria for setting tolerances for pesticide residues in foods.
U.S.-Russia Meat and Poultry Trade Issues: Russia announced on August 29, 2008, that it was banning poultry imports from 19 U.S. establishments due to safety concerns, and that 29 others could lose approval if they do not improve their standards. Russian officials also signaled that they might reduce U.S. permits to import poultry and pork under that country's quota system. The economic stakes of Russian import actions are high for U.S. poultry producers - 29% of their exports went to that market in 2007 - and red meat producers, who also are experiencing strong growth in the Russian market. In Congress, any potential options likely would be reviewed within the context of the broader geopolitical situation.
Federal Food Assistance in Disasters: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: This report discusses federal food assistance in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Food Stamp program, child nutrition programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (the WIC program), and federally donated food commodities delivered through relief organizations provide major support in disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Existing laws authorize the Agriculture Department to change eligibility and benefit rules to facilitate emergency aid, and, in the short term, funding and federally provided food commodities are available without the need for additional appropriations.
Charitable Contributions of Food Inventory: Proposals for Change: Early in the 109th Congress, both S. 6, the Family and Community Protection Act of 2005, and S. 94, the Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Act, have been introduced to encourage gifts of food by businesses for charitable purposes. While current law provides a deduction only to C corporations, these bills would expand the tax break to all business entities. The value of the existing deduction is the corporation’s basis in the donated product plus one half of the amount of appreciation, as long as that amount is less than twice the corporation’s basis in the product.
The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust: Background and Current Issues: The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust is becoming a critical component of the U.S. response to humanitarian food emergencies in Africa, Iraq, and elsewhere. The Trust, as presently constituted, was enacted in the 1998 Africa Seeds of Hope Act (P.L. 105- 385). It replaced the Food Security Commodity Reserve established in 1996 and its predecessor the Food Security Wheat Reserve of 1980. This report discusses the administration’s proposals to reduce food aid’s reliance on surplus commodities and anticipated demand for emergency food aid have focused renewed attention on the Emerson Trust, which has been used four times in FY2002 and FY2003 to meet unanticipated food needs in Africa and Iraq.
Japan’s 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami: Food and Agriculture Implications: This document discusses the implications of United States food imports from Japan following the nuclear crisis that resulted from the 2011 tsunami which raised concerns about the possible radioactive contamination of food. Assessment of Japans food industry and international actions following the crisis are examined along with U.S. regulation of food imports by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Estimating the population eligible for food stamps: This report Estimates the population eligible for food stamps who participate in the food stamp program.
Food Stamp Benefits for Legal Immigrants in P.L. 105-185: The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA; P.L. 104-193) established significant new restrictions on the eligibility of legal immigrants, or "qualified aliens," for needs-based public assistance.' Previously, legal immigrants were eligible for public assistance on much the same basis as citizens. Food stamp eligibility will be provided for approximately 250,000 legal immigrants under P.L. 105-185, the "Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998," at a cost of $818 million for FY1999-FY2003. The food stamp eligibility provisions took effect on November 1, 1998.
Ethiopian Food Situation: International Response: The United States has donated the largest share of the world-wide relief effort. Members of Congress nave passed legislation, the African Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985 (2.L. 99-8), authorizing emergency relief assistance to Ethiopia and other famine-stricken countries. Some observers favor trying to remove restrictions that prohibit long-term agricultural development assistance and other forms of economic aid to Ethiopia, but many continue to believe that aid to this Marxist-oriented nation should be limited to humanitarian relief. The Ethiopian food situation will probably remain a central issue among U.S. lawmakers and relief officials during the 99th Congress.
Agricultural Biotechnology: Background and Recent Issues: Since the first genetically engineered (GE) crops (also called GM [genetically modified] crops, or GMOs, genetically modified organisms) became commercially available in the mid-1990s, U.S. soybean, cotton, and corn farmers have rapidly adopted them. As adoption has spread, there have been policy debates over the costs and benefits of GE products. Issues include the impacts of GE crops on the environment and food safety, and whether GE foods should be specially labeled. Congress generally has been supportive of GE agricultural products, although some Members have expressed wariness about their adoption and regulation. The 109th Congress will likely continue to follow trade developments, particularly the U.S.-EU dispute, as well as U.S. regulatory mechanisms for approving biotech foods.
Seafood Safety: Background and Issues: Although seafood consumption can contribute to a healthy diet, some fish and shellfish can cause foodborne illnesses or contain environmental contaminants. This report discusses whether current food safety programs are sufficiently protecting consumers, and if not, what changes should be considered.
Food Safety: Provisions in the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007: No Description Available.
Legislative Changes in the Food Stamp Program: This report is about the Food stamp amendments of 1980.
Legal Issues with Federal Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food: In Brief: This report discusses the debate of labeling genetically engineered (GE) or genetically modified (GMO) food products and the inconsistency of jurisdiction surrounding the issue, considering the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) lack of formal regulations and policies on the labeling of GE food.
Food Stamps and Nutrition Programs in the 2002 Farm Bill: This report gives an overview of food stamps, nutrition programs, and activities covered in the 2002 farm bill.
Brief Summary and section-by-section analysis of amendment no. 582.: This report is a brief summary along with a section-wise analysis of the Amendment no.582 which is about simplified food stamp distribution for the recipients of family assistance benefits or aid to the aged, blind and disabled.
Hunger and Malnutrition in the United States: How Much?: This report describes the brief review of the hunger issue in America is developed from an examination of various approaches to determining the nutritional status of the nation.
Food Safety Agencies and Authorities: A Primer: Several federal agencies, in cooperation with state governments, are responsible for regulating the safety of the U.S. food supply. In the wake of an outbreak of foodborne illness and the largest recall of suspected contaminated meat in U.S. history in August 1997, several policymakers have reopened the debate on creating a single, independent, federal food safety agency. They assert that this would provide more effective regulatory control over the entire farm-to-table food production and marketing system by eliminating the overlapping and occasionally competing for objectives of multiple agencies. As background for further discussion on this and related food safety issues, this report describes the roles of the primary federal and cooperating state agencies responsible for food safety and enumerates the major legislative authorities currently governing them.
Primer on P.L. 480 -- Program History, Description, and Operations: A Brief Compilation of Explanatory Documents: This report discusses P.L. 480 (the Food for Peace Program), its advantages and disadvantages, and provides historical, descriptive, and operational information on the largest U.S. foreign food aid program.
Food Safety: Selected Issues and Bills in the 110th Congress: This report addresses selected issues and bills in the 110th Congress related to Food Safety.
Exempting Food and Agriculture Products from U.S. Economic Sanctions: Status and Implementation: This report provides an overview of status and implementation of exempting food and agriculture products from the U.S. economic sanctions.
Food Safety Issues in the 106th Congress: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released in September new estimates showing that each year in the United States 76 million people get sick, 325,000 are hospitalized, and 5,000 die from food-related illnesses. Food-borne illness is a serious public health problem. Often, people do not seek medical help and their illness is not officially reported. Yet, consumers have become aware of the serious consequences of illnesses linked to a growing variety of foods, produced domestically or imported. Consumers want the government to regulate the food supply, and industry is interested in producing foods that are safe at a reasonable price. As a result there is congressional interest in oversight and legislation in this area.
Food Safety and Protection Issues in the 107th Congress: This report discusses Food Safety and Protection issues in the 107th Congress.
Food Safety and Protection Issues in the 107th Congress: This report provides food safety and protection issues in the 107th Congress.
The 2014 Farm Bill (Agricultural Act of 2014, P.L. 113-79): This report briefly informs the reader about what the Farm Bill of 2014 is, what is at stake, and the cost of it. The report also includes information about the involvement of interest groups and the effect the Farm Bill has on food issues.
African Famine: U.S. Response: This report discusses the 1985 African famine situation, especially regarding U.S. emergency assistance at a time of U.S. domestic budgetary restraints, the adequacy of U.S. measures for monitoring and anticipating food emergencies, and the scale and nature of U.S. agricultural development programs intended to prevent future famines.
Pesticide Legislation: Food Quality Protection Act of 1996: The 104th congress enacted significant changes to the Federal Insecticide, fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), governing U.S. sale and use of pesticide products, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), which limits pesticide residues on food. The vehicle of these changes was H.R. 1627, the "Food Quality Protection Act of 1996" (FQPA), enacted August 3, 1996, as Public Law 104-170. Under FIFRA, the new law will facilitate registrations and reregistrations of pesticides for special (so-called"minor") uses and authorize collection of maintenance fees of support pesticide reregistration. Food safety provisions will establish a single standard of safety for pesticide residue on raw and processed foods; provide information through large food retail stores to consumers about the health risks of pesticide residues and how to avoid them; preempt state and local food safety laws if they are based on concentrations of pesticide residues below recently established federal residue limits(called"tolerances"); and ensure that tolerances protect the health of infants and children.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Issues: This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Issues: This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Issues: This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Issues: This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Issues: This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Issues: This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Issues: This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Issues: This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.
Meat and Poultry Inspection Issues: This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program and Emergency Feeding Needs: This report contains the emergency food assistance program and emergency feeding needs.
“Agricultural Commodity,” “Agricultural Product,” “Farm Product” and Related Terms: Definitions for Federal Policy: This report defines a number of terms within the realm of agricultural production.
International Food Aid: U.S. and Other Donor Contributions: This report provides data on the U.S. contribution to global food aid as reported by signatories of the International Food Aid Convention (FAc) and compiled by the International Grains Council (IGC).
Domestic Food Assistance: Legislative Issues in the 110th Congress: No Description Available.
International Food Aid: U.S. and Other Donor Contributions: This report provides three indicators of the U.S. contribution to global food aid: 1) shipments of major donors compiled by the International Grains Council, 2) U.S. contributions to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), and 3) the U.S. commitment under the Food Aid Convention (FAC).
Fruits and Vegetables: Ongoing Issues for Congress: The FY2001 appropriations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and related agencies (P.L. 106-387/H.R. 4461) was signed into law on October 28, 2000. The act addressed agricultural emergency assistance (disasters and market losses) for specific fruits, vegetables, and nursery; contingency funding for APHIS to control crop diseases; funding for the methyl bromide transition program; and funding for the National Organic Program. It also would provide for the establishment of a marketing order for Hass avocados, and would redirect the duties charged foreign countries for dumping to injured farmers, ranchers, and others.
Cash and Non-Cash Benefits for Persons with Limited Income: Eligibility Rules, Recipient and Expenditure Data, FY1981-83: This report summarizes basic eligibility rules, as of May 1984, for more than 70 cash and non-cash programs that benefit primarily persons of limited income. It also gives funding formulas, benefit levels, and, for fiscal years 1981-1983, recipient numbers and expenditure data for each program.
What Is the Farm Bill?: Report that describes the Farm Bill (P.L. 110-246, "2008 farm bill"), the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which was enacted into law on June 18, 2008. It discusses the most recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) "baseline" budget (May 2013
Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods: Current Law and Proposed Changes: This report discusses law and proposed changes related to Country-of-Origin labeling for Foods.
Food Labeling: Allergy Information: This report provides background information on food allergies and review efforts to provide improved labeling information for food allergy sufferers.
FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products: A Policy and Legal Analysis: This report provides the policy and legal analysis of the FDA regulation of tobacco products.
Dietary Supplements: Legislative and Regulatory Status: This report reviews the statutory changes that DSHEA contained and the status and impact of their implementation by the federal agencies responsible, particularly the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), within the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Federal Food Safety System: A Primer: No Description Available.

Congressional Research Service Reports - 490 Matching Results

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