[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 117 (Monday, September 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8925-S8926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BAUCUS (for himself, Mr. Allard, Mr. Burns, Mr. Conrad, 
        Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Craig, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Ford, Mr. Graham, 
        Mr. Grassley, Mr. Helms, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kerrey, Ms. Landrieu, 
        Mr. Leahy, Mr. Roth, and Mr. Harkin):
  S. 1153. A bill to promote food safety through continuation of the 
Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database program operated by the 
Secretary of Agriculture; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry.


                        FOOD SAFETY LEGISLATION

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce important 
legislation providing for the permanent authorization of the Food 
Animal Residue Avoidance Databank [FARAD] program. I am joined by 15 of 
my colleagues and I hope the Senate will pass this legislation very 
soon.
  Mr. President, food safety has long been of tantamount importance to 
the veterinary profession and to the American consumer. Customers 
rightly expect that the food they purchase is of the highest quality. 
More importantly, consumers must know that the food they consume is 
safe. And our veterinarians work to help consumers in this endeavor. 
This legislation is designed to help Americans maintain their safe, 
wholesome food supply.
  In 1982, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Extension Service 
undertook an educational effort to prevent chemical residues in food 
animal products. That same year, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection 
Service [FSIS] sponsored a Residue Avoidance Program as a repository of 
residue avoidance information and educational materials.
  FARAD was founded as a cooperative, multi-State effort by Drs. 
Stephen Sundlof of the University of Florida, Jim Riviere of North 
Carolina State University, Aurther Craigmiller of the University of 
California, Davis, and William Buck of the University of Illinois. Each 
investigator brought a unique expertise to the collaboration. Since 
that origin, FARAD has evolved into an expert-mediated residue 
avoidance decision support system which is crucial to food safety 
across the Nation.
  FARAD provides an invaluable service to the animal health profession, 
helping veterinarians provide appropriate, science-based therapy--
improving animal health while preventing food safety risks to consumers 
from residues. FARAD's computer-based decision support system is 
designed to provide livestock producers, pharmacists, and extension 
specialists with immediate access to practical information on drugs, 
pesticides, and environmental contaminants which hold the greatest 
potential for residue formation in livestock food products.
  Since its inception, FARAD has published three handbooks and two 
practical software products, while maintaining a telephone hotline and 
an internet access site--all devoted to providing the information 
necessary to protect the livestock food system from contamination.
  Through the USDA Extension Service, FARAD has received approximately 
$200,000 per year since its inception. These funds have been awarded on 
the basis of competitive grants, relying

[[Page S8926]]

on matching funds from the participating universities. However, for the 
universities providing this valuable service the price has been too 
high. It is time to provide adequate Federal funding to accomplish this 
vital work.
  FARAD provides a vital service across the country. Congress must now 
express its support for this tool which can help maintain the well-
founded confidence of the American consumers in their food supply.
  Mr. President, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this valuable legislation and I urge its adoption.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1153

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABASE PROGRAM.

       (a) Continuation of Program.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall continue operation of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance 
     Database program (referred to in this section as the ``FARAD 
     program'') through contracts with appropriate colleges or 
     universities.
       (b) Activities.--In carrying out the FARAD program, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture shall--
       (1) provide livestock producers, extension specialists, 
     scientists, and veterinarians with information to prevent 
     drug, pesticide, and environmental contaminant residues in 
     food animal products;
       (2) maintain up-to-date information concerning--
       (A) withdrawal times on FDA-approved food animal drugs and 
     appropriate withdrawal intervals for drugs used in food 
     animals in the United States, as established under section 
     512(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 
     360b(a));
       (B) official tolerances for drugs and pesticides in 
     tissues, eggs, and milk;
       (C) descriptions and sensitivities of rapid screening tests 
     for detecting residues in tissues, eggs, and milk; and
       (D) data on the distribution and fate of chemicals in food 
     animals;
       (3) publish periodically a compilation of food animal drugs 
     approved by the Food and Drug Administration;
       (4) make information on food animal drugs available to the 
     public through handbooks and other literature, computer 
     software, a telephone hotline, and the Internet;
       (5) furnish producer quality-assurance programs with up-to-
     date data on approved drugs;
       (6) maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date, residue 
     avoidance database;
       (7) provide professional advice for determining the 
     withdrawal times necessary for food safety in the use of 
     drugs in food animals; and
       (8) engage in other activities designed to promote food 
     safety.
       (c) Contracts.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall offer 
     to enter into contracts with appropriate colleges and 
     universities to operate the FARAD program.
       (2) Term.--The term of a contract under subsection (a) 
     shall be 3 years, with options to extend the term of the 
     contract triennially.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for 
     each fiscal year.

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