109 STAT. 546 PUBLIC LAW 104–55—NOV. 20, 1995

Public Law 104–55

104th Congress

An Act

To require the head of any Federal agency to differentiate between fats, oils,

and greases of animal, marine, or vegetable origin, and other oils and greases,

in issuing certain regulations, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Edible Oil Regulatory Reform

Act’’.

SEC. 2. DIFFERENTIATION AMONG FATS, OILS, AND GREASES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (c), in issuing or enforcing any regulation or establishing any interpretation

or guideline relating to the transportation, storage, discharge,

release, emission, or disposal of a fat, oil, or grease under any

Federal law, the head of that Federal agency shall—

(1) differentiate between and establish separate classes

for—

(A) animal fats and oils and greases, and fish and

marine mammal oils, within the meaning of paragraph

(2) of section 61(a) of title 13, United States Code, and

oils of vegetable origin, including oils from the seeds, nuts,

and kernels referred to in paragraph (1)(A) of that section;

and

(B) other oils and greases, including petroleum; and

(2) apply standards to different classes of fats and oils

based on considerations in subsection (b).

(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In differentiating between the class of

fats, oils, and greases described in subsection (a)(1)(A) and the

class of oils and greases described in subsection (a)(1)(B), the head

of the Federal agency shall consider differences in the physical,

chemical, biological, and other properties, and in the environmental

effects, of the classes.

(c) EXCEPTION.—The requirements of this Act shall not apply

to the Food and Drug Administration and the Food Safety and

Inspection Service.

(d) FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.—

(1) Section 1004(a)(1) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33

U.S.C. 2704(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘for a tank vessel,’’

and inserting ‘‘for a tank vessel (except a tank vessel on which

the only oil carried as cargo is an animal fat or vegetable

oil, as those terms are used in section 2 of the Edible Oil

Regulatory Reform Act)’’.

33 USC 2720.

33 USC 2701

note.

Edible Oil

Regulatory

Reform Act.

Nov. 20, 1995

[H.R. 436]
PUBLIC LAW 104–55—NOV. 20, 1995 109 STAT. 547

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 436:

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 104–262, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Agriculture) and Pt. 2 (Comm.

on Commerce).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 141 (1995):

Oct. 10, considered and passed House.

Nov. 2, considered and passed Senate, amended.

Nov. 7, House concurred in Senate amendments.

Æ

(2) Section 1016(a) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33

U.S.C. 2716(a)) is amended in the first sentence by striking

‘‘, in the case of a tank vessel, the responsible party could

be subject under section 1004(a)(1) or (d) of this Act, or to

which, in the case of any other vessel, the responsible party

could be subjected under section 1004(a)(2) or (d)’’ and inserting

‘‘the responsible party could be subjected under section 1004(a)

or (d) of this Act’’.

Approved November 20, 1995.