[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11985-S11986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DORGAN (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Baucus, and Mr. 
        Conrad):
  S. 2592. A bill to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act to permit a State to register a Canadian pesticide for 
distribution and use within that State; to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


               canadian cross-border chemical legislation

 Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, today, I introduce the first in 
what will be a number of bills addressing the inequalities in the 
availability and pricing of agricultural chemicals between the United 
States and Canada. This bill focuses on the differences in prices 
between identical or nearly identical chemicals. The need for this bill 
is created by chemical companies who use our chemical labeling laws to 
protect their pricing and marketing system. By labeling similar 
products only for use in different states or countries or only for use 
on certain plants, chemical companies are able to extract unreasonable 
profits from farmers who desperately need their products.
  A second part of my effort to correct differences between 
agricultural chemicals used in Canada and the United States is a study 
by the General Accounting Office (GAO). I am now finalizing discussions 
with GAO as to the specific areas to be studied and the scope of the 
study. It is my expectation that I will introduce legislation in the 
next session of Congress to correct the remaining deficiencies.
  Of particular concern lately has been the significant difference in 
farm chemical prices between Canada and the United States. Because our 
farmers are engaged in a difficult trade battle with Canada, 
differences in agricultural chemical prices between Canada and the 
United States place our farmers at a disadvantage with their Canadian 
competition. This bill is drafted to correct
  As introduced today, the bill sets up a procedure by which states may 
apply for, and receive, an Environmental Protection Agency label for 
agricultural chemicals sold in Canada which are identical or 
substantially similar to agricultural chemicals used in the United 
States. Initially, this bill will allow the cross border movement of 
similar chemicals. Eventually, it is my expectation that this bill, 
along with the GAO study, will lead to an equalization of farm chemical 
availability and prices across the border.

[[Page S11986]]

  I request my colleagues' support in this effort to bring fairness to 
cross-border chemical pricing.
                                 ______