Edible Oil Regulatory Reform Act
PL 104-55 (H.R.436), enacted 11/20/1995

109 STAT. 546 
PUBLIC LAW 104-55—NOV. 20, 1995 
Public Law 104-55 
104th Congress 
An Act 
N 
90 iQQs; 
"^^ require the head of any Federal agency to differentiate between fats, oils, 
——ii 
and greases of animal, marine, or vegetable origin, and other oils and greases, 
[H.R. 436] 
in issuing certain regulations, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
Edible Oil 
the United States of America in Congress assembled. 
Regulatory 
Reform Act. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
33 u s e 2701 
note. 
This Act may be cited as the "Edible Oil Regulatory Reform 
Act". 
33 u s e 2720. 
SEC. 2. DIFFERENTIATION AMONG FATS, OILS, AND GREASES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (c), in issu-
ing or enforcing any regulation or estabUshing any interpretation 
or guideUne 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 diffierentiating 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)". 
PUBLIC LAW 104-55—NOV. 20, 1995 
109 STAT. 547 
(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. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 436: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 104-262, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Agriculture) and Pt. 2 (Coram. 
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.