[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 63 (Thursday, May 19, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 EXTENDING TIME PERIOD FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE NUTRITION LABELING AND 
            EDUCATION ACT OF 1990 FOR CERTAIN FOOD PRODUCTS

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 2087) to extend the time period for 
compliance with the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 for 
certain food products packaged prior to August 8, 1994, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I shall 
not object, but I take this reservation for the purpose of asking the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Waxman] to explain the reason for this 
request.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. BLILEY. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, the final regulations for the Nutrition 
Labeling and Education Act of 1990 became effective on May 8 of this 
year. The implementation of this act represents a magnificent 
achievement on the part of the Federal Government and American 
industry. It will greatly benefit consumers.
  The vast majority of companies have been able to meet the May 8 
deadline. However, there are a number of companies that have sought a 
3-month extension of the deadline either because of the backlog in 
printing labels or because they have a large inventory of containers 
and labels that do not comply with the new rules. We have been informed 
that these containers and labels are worth millions and perhaps tens of 
millions of dollars.
  This bill will grant a 3-month extension for compliance with the NLEA 
with respect to certain products. This brief extension will allow 
companies to use this excess inventory, but will not in any way 
undercut the basic benefits of the NLEA.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, this 
bill simply extends the May 8, 1994, deadline for all companies to be 
in compliance with the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act for another 
3 months. Companies that had printed labels before May 8, 1994, will be 
able to continue to use their old nutrition labeling until August 8, 
1994. This will enable companies to avoid the economic and 
environmental waste of discarding millions of labels.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                S. 2087

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     before August 8, 1994, section 403(q) and 403(r)(2) of the 
     Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the provision of 
     section 403(i) of such Act added by section 7(2) of the 
     Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, shall not apply 
     with respect to a food product which is contained in a 
     package for which the label was printed before May 8, 1994 
     (or before August 8, 1994, in the case of a juice or milk 
     food product if the person responsible for the labeling of 
     such food product exercised due diligence in obtaining before 
     such date labels which are in compliance with such sections 
     403(q) and 403(r)(2) and such provision of section 403(i)), 
     if, before June 15, 1994, the person who introduces or 
     delivers for introduction such food product into interstate 
     commerce submits to the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services a certification that such person will comply with 
     this section and will comply with such sections 403(q) and 
     403(r)(2) and such provision of section 403(i) after August 
     8, 1994.

  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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