[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 32 (Monday, August 12, 1996)]
[Page 1402]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996

August 3, 1996

    Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 1627, the ``Food Quality 
Protection Act of 1996,'' which brings much needed reform to laws 
governing pesticides and food safety.
    Americans have every right to expect that the world's most bountiful 
food supply will also be the world's safest. Early in my Administration 
I set out to strengthen our pesticide and food safety laws. This Act 
achieves that goal with commonsense regulatory reform based on the best 
available science.
    The Act will replace conflicting and outdated pesticide residue 
standards with a single, rigorous health-based standard for all food. 
All pesticides will be required to meet the new standard. Incentives are 
also provided for swift approval of safe, new pesticide alternatives for 
farmers.
    Most importantly, H.R. 1627 contains special new provisions to 
protect America's infants and children from pesticide risks. These 
protections will guarantee that every family in America has the safest 
food possible on their dinner table.
    This Act demonstrates how the Congress and the Administration can 
work together to help both farmers and consumers, and I am pleased to 
sign it into law.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
August 3, 1996.

Note: H.R. 1627, approved August 3, was assigned Public Law No. 104-170.