[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 368 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 368

  To prohibit the introduction of a plastic container into interstate 
 commerce that does not contain a marking that identifies the type of 
  plastic resin used to produce the container, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 5, 1993

  Ms. Snowe introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To prohibit the introduction of a plastic container into interstate 
 commerce that does not contain a marking that identifies the type of 
  plastic resin used to produce the container, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Plastic Container Identification Act 
of 1993''.

SEC. 2. MARKING OF PLASTIC CONTAINERS.

    (a) In General.--The introduction or delivery for introduction into 
interstate commerce of any plastic container that does not contain a 
marking that is in accordance with subsection (b) is prohibited.
    (b) Content of Marking.--In order to meet the requirement of this 
subsection, a plastic container shall contain on the bottom of such 
container a molded plastic marking that identifies the type of plastic 
resin used to produce such container. Such marking shall consist of 
letters placed below a number. The letters and numbers shall be as 
follows:
            (1) For polyethylene terephthalate, the letters ``PETE'' 
        and the number 1.
            (2) For high density polyethylene, the letters ``HDPE'' and 
        the number 2.
            (3) For vinyl, the letter ``V'' and the number 3.
            (4) For low density polyethylene, the letters ``LDPE'' and 
        the number 4.
            (5) For polypropylene, the letters ``PP'' and the number 5.
            (6) For polystyrene, the letters ``PS'' and the number 6.
            (7) For any other plastic resin, including multilayer, the 
        letters ``OTHER'' and the number 7.
    (c) Penalties.--A person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
subject to the same penalties as if in violation of section 301(a) of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 331(a)), and a 
plastic container that does not contain a marking that is in accordance 
with subsection (b) shall be subject to the seizure procedures 
contained in section 304 of such Act (21 U.S.C. 334).
    (d) Definition of Plastic Container.--As used in this section, the 
term ``plastic container'' means a rigid container made of synthetic or 
natural polymerized resins or cellulose derivatives that is used to 
package a beverage, food item, or other item and that retains its shape 
whether full or empty.
    (e) Exemption.--A plastic container with a volume of 8 ounces or 
less which is used to package pharmaceutical products is exempt from 
the requirement contained in subsection (a).
    (f) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall apply to any plastic 
container that is introduced or delivered for introduction into 
interstate commerce after January 1, 1995.

SEC. 3. REPORT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall 
submit to Congress a report containing--
    (1) a plan for promoting, through educational programs and other 
methods, the recycling of plastic products covered under section 2(a), 
as well as other plastic products, and
    (2) recommendations for reducing the amount of non-recyclable and 
nonbiodegradable plastic used in the manufacture of products.

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