[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2760 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2760

 To clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to establish 
performance standards for the reduction of microbiological pathogens in 
                           meat and poultry.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 21, 2000

  Mr. Harkin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to establish 
performance standards for the reduction of microbiological pathogens in 
                           meat and poultry.

    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 ``Microbiological Performance 
Standards Clarification Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. MICROBIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR MEAT AND POULTRY.

    (a) Meat and Meat Products.--The Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 8 (21 U.S.C. 
608) the following:

``SEC. 8A. MICROBIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

    ``(a) In General.--In order to protect the public health and 
promote food safety, the Secretary may by regulation prescribe 
performance standards for the reduction of microbiological pathogens in 
meat and meat products processed by each establishment receiving 
inspection services under this Act.
    ``(b) Enforcement.--If the Secretary determines that an 
establishment fails to meet a standard established under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall refuse to allow any meat or meat product 
subject to the standard and processed by the establishment to be 
labeled, marked, stamped, or tagged as `inspected and passed'.''.
    (b) Poultry and Poultry Products.--The Poultry Products Inspection 
Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 7 (21 
U.S.C. 456) the following:

``SEC. 7A. MICROBIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

    ``(a) In General.--In order to protect the public health and 
promote food safety, the Secretary may by regulation prescribe 
performance standards for the reduction of microbiological pathogens in 
poultry and poultry products processed by each establishment receiving 
inspection services under this Act.
    ``(b) Enforcement.--If the Secretary determines that an 
establishment fails to meet a standard established under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall refuse to allow any poultry or poultry product 
subject to the standard and processed by the establishment to be 
labeled, marked, stamped, or tagged as `inspected and passed'.''.
    (c) Effectiveness of Current Regulations.--Consistent with section 
553 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
have the authority to enforce the microbiological performance standards 
of the Secretary in effect on May 24, 2000.
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