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103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 5171

To amend the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954

to require nutrient fortification of agricultural commodities provided for

feeding programs.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 4, 1994

Mr. PENNY introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the

Committees on Agriculture and Foreign Affairs

A BILL

To amend the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to require nutrient fortification of

agricultural commodities provided for feeding programs.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 101. MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATION.

4 Section 202 of the Agricultural Trade Development

5 and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1722) is amended

6 by adding the following new subsection:

7 ‘‘(h) MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATION.—

8 ‘‘(1) PROCESSED FOODS.—The Administrator

9 shall require that processed foods provided under
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1 this title shall be fortified with appropriate amounts

2 of designated micronutrients, including vitamin A

3 and iron, as determined by the Administrator pursu4 ant to regulation.

5 ‘‘(2) VEGETABLE OIL—The Administrator shall

6 study the feasibility and effectiveness of

7 micronutrient fortification of vegetable oil taking

8 into account the stability of the added

9 micronutrients and the potential for their degrada10 tion in light of the effects of transportation, han11 dling, storage, and other conditions associated with

12 distribution under this title.

13 ‘‘(3) OTHER COMMODITIES.—The Adminis14 trator shall require fortification of other commodities

15 such as whole grains provided under this title if and

16 when the Administrator determines that such for17 tification is economically and logistically feasibile

18 and has been tested and proven effective.

19 ‘‘(4) MONITORING.—The Administrator shall

20 carry out a program to monitor the levels of

21 micronutrients contained in commodities provided

22 under this title.

23 ‘‘(5) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 6 months

24 after the date of enactment of this subsection, the

25 Administrator shall by regulation establish the ap-
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1 propriate minimum levels of certain essential

2 micronutrients, including vitamin A and iron, which

3 shall be required in agricultural commodities pro4 vided under this title. The Administrator shall take

5 into account the bioavailability of such

6 micronutrients, the feasibility of fortification of com7 modities with such micronutrients, the stability and

8 potential degradation of added micronutrients in

9 light of the effects of transportation, handling, stor10 age, and distribution of the commodities, and the ul11 timate use for which the commodities are intended.

12 In general, the Administrator shall assume that

13 commodities provided under this title shall be uti14 lized only to supplement the diets of the recipients.’’.

15 SEC. 102. IMPLEMENTATION OF FEEDING PROGRAMS.

16 It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator,

17 in implementing feeding programs under the Agricultural

18 Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, should:

19 (1) place more emphasis on assessing food aid

20 needs in designing direct feeding programs—

21 (A) to modify specific food aid commodities

22 to better suit program recipients (according to

23 dietary needs and cultural practices); and
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1 (B) to modify feeding programs to better

2 target the most vulnerable groups (children,

3 girls, and the elderly); and

4 (2) design programs that encourage in-country

5 micronutrient fortification so that structures are in

6 place when food assistance is withdrawn.

7 SEC. 103. REPORT.

8 Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment

9 of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare and submit

10 to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep11 resentatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,

12 and Forestry of the Senate, a report on the implementa13 tion of the provisions and amendments contained in this

14 Act.

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