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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 Assist-
ance Act of 1954 to require nutrient fortification of
agricultural commodities provided for feeding programs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 101. MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATION.
Section 202 of the Agricultural Trade Development
and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1722) is amended
by adding the following new subsection:
‘‘(h) MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATION.—
‘‘(1) PROCESSED
FOODS.—The Administrator
shall require that processed foods provided under
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this title shall be fortified with appropriate amounts
of designated micronutrients, including vitamin A
and iron, as determined by the Administrator pursu-
ant to regulation.
‘‘(2) VEGETABLE OIL—The Administrator shall
study 
the 
feasibility 
and 
effectiveness 
of
micronutrient fortification of vegetable oil taking
into 
account 
the 
stability 
of 
the 
added
micronutrients and the potential for their degrada-
tion in light of the effects of transportation, han-
dling, storage, and other conditions associated with
distribution under this title.
‘‘(3) OTHER
COMMODITIES.—The Adminis-
trator shall require fortification of other commodities
such as whole grains provided under this title if and
when the Administrator determines that such for-
tification is economically and logistically feasibile
and has been tested and proven effective.
‘‘(4) MONITORING.—The Administrator shall
carry out a program to monitor the levels of
micronutrients contained in commodities provided
under this title.
‘‘(5) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 6 months
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the
Administrator shall by regulation establish the ap-
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propriate minimum levels of certain essential
micronutrients, including vitamin A and iron, which
shall be required in agricultural commodities pro-
vided under this title. The Administrator shall take
into 
account 
the 
bioavailability 
of 
such
micronutrients, the feasibility of fortification of com-
modities with such micronutrients, the stability and
potential degradation of added micronutrients in
light of the effects of transportation, handling, stor-
age, and distribution of the commodities, and the ul-
timate use for which the commodities are intended.
In general, the Administrator shall assume that
commodities provided under this title shall be uti-
lized only to supplement the diets of the recipients.’’.
SEC. 102. IMPLEMENTATION OF FEEDING PROGRAMS.
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator,
in implementing feeding programs under the Agricultural
Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, should:
(1) place more emphasis on assessing food aid
needs in designing direct feeding programs—
(A) to modify specific food aid commodities
to better suit program recipients (according to
dietary needs and cultural practices); and
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(B) to modify feeding programs to better
target the most vulnerable groups (children,
girls, and the elderly); and
(2) design programs that encourage in-country
micronutrient fortification so that structures are in
place when food assistance is withdrawn.
SEC. 103. REPORT.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare and submit
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry of the Senate, a report on the implementa-
tion of the provisions and amendments contained in this
Act.
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