§75b. Committee on Grain Quality and Grain Quality Coordinator

(a) Establishment of Committee and Coordinator

(1) Committee

The Secretary of Agriculture (hereafter referred to in this title ¹ as the "Secretary") shall establish, within the Department of Agriculture, a Committee on Grain Quality (hereafter referred to in this section as the "Committee").

(2) Coordinator

The Committee established under paragraph (1) shall be chaired by an individual, appointed by the Secretary, who shall serve as the Grain Quality Coordinator (hereafter referred to in this title ¹ as the "Coordinator") and, in consultation with the Committee, carry out the duties described in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Duties

The Coordinator shall be responsible for-

(1) assembling and evaluating, in a systematic manner, concerns and problems with the quality of United States grain, expressed by foreign and domestic buyers and end-users;

(2) developing and implementing a coordinated effort to inform and educate foreign buyers concerning the proper specifications of grain purchase contracts to obtain the quality of grain they desire;

(3) reviewing the programs and activities of the Department of Agriculture with respect to United States grain to determine whether the activities are consistent with the provisions of this title ¹ (and other provisions of law) as such provisions relate to grain quality and grain quality competitiveness;

(4) serving as the Federal Government coordinator with respect to grain quality and grain quality competitiveness; and

(5) investigating and communicating, through the Secretary, to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate concerning-

(A) actions undertaken by the Department of Agriculture-

(i) to improve the quality of United States grain; and

(ii) that are inconsistent with the goal of improving grain quality;

(B) conditions in the production and marketing sectors that discourage improvements in grain quality;

(C) interrelationships of rules and actions taken by the Federal Grain Inspection Service, other agencies of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and other Federal agencies, relating to grain production, handling, storage, transportation, and processing as such actions affect the wholesomeness and performance of grain;

(D) recommendations for legislative or regulatory changes that would address grain quality issues;

(E) progress made and benefits expected from the international harmonization of sanitary and phytosanitary requirements affecting grain;

(F) potential opportunities and benefits from the international harmonization of grain grades and standards;

(G) alternative forms of financial and technical assistance available and needed by producers and elevator operators to acquire and properly utilize grain cleaning, drying, and storage equipment; and

(H) progress on requirements of other sections of this title.²

(c) Termination

This section shall terminate on January 1, 2001.

( Pub. L. 101–624, title XX, §2002, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3928 .)

References in Text

This title, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(3), (5)(H), is title XX of Pub. L. 101–624, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3928 , known as the Grain Quality Incentives Act of 1990. For complete classification of title XX to the Code, see Short Title of 1990 Amendment note set out under section 71 of this title and Tables.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Grain Quality Incentives Act of 1990, and not as part of the United States Grain Standards Act which comprises this chapter.

¹ See References in Text note below.

² See References in Text note below.