Federal Sludge-Labeling Bill

The EPA and many states have been deregulating sewage sludge to the point where this toxic sludge is now allowed to be dumped on farmlands where food is grown. Rather than be treated as a hazardous waste, it is now redefined as a nutrient. Even "organic" food can be grown in field where sludge from major cities has been dumped. This sludge is highly toxic and sometimes even radioactive, since many industries (sometimes even nuclear ones) are legally allowed to dump their waste into the sewer system.

The newly-formed National Sludge Alliance is supporting this federal legislation which would label sludge-applied foods. Please forward this far and wide, since it is virtually unknown and the mainstream environmental groups have totally failed to address this issue.

Write your legislators and don't stop!

This and other legislation can be found at the most excellent government-info search page: http://thorplus.lib.purdue.edu:8100/gpo/ (go to Search GPO Access)

If you need to know how to contact your congresspeople, go here: http://www.vote-smart.org/congress/105/ To find out who your federal (and state) legislators are, go here: http://www.vote-smart.org/ (where it asks for your zip code)

For background on sewage sludge, read the "Sludge Hits the Fan" chapter from the book "Toxic Sludge is Good for You! -- Lies, Damned Lies and the Public Relations Industry" at http://www.envirolink.org/issues/sludge/sludge.html

Mike Ewall
Pennsylvania Environmental Network
http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/pen

105th CONGRESS
1st Session

To amend the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the egg, meat, and poultry inspection laws to ensure that consumers receive notification regarding food products produced from crops, livestock, or poultry raised on land on which sewage sludge was applied.

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

SECTION 1. NOTIFICATION TO CONSUMERS OF FOOD PRODUCTS PRODUCED ON LAND ON WHICH SEWAGE SLUDGE HAS BEEN APPLIED.

(a) Adulterated Food Under Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.-- Section 402 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 342) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(h)(1) If it is a food (intended for human consumption and offered for sale) that was produced, or contains any ingredient that was produced, on land on which sewage sludge was applied, unless--:
``(A) the application of sewage sludge to the land terminated more than one year before the date on which the production of the food or ingredient on the land commenced;:
``(B) the food bears a label that clearly indicates that the food, or an ingredient of the food, was produced on land on which sewage sludge was applied; or:
``(C) in the case of a raw agricultural commodity or other food generally offered for sale without labeling, a sign is posted within close proximity of the food to notify consumers that the food, or an ingredient of the food, was produced on land on which sewage sludge was applied.''.:

(b) Adulterated Food Under Egg Products Inspection Act.--Section 4(a) of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1033(a)) is amended--:
(1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (7);:
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and inserting ``; or''; and:
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph::
``(9) if it is derived from poultry that are raised, or that consume animal feed produced, on land on which sewage sludge was applied, unless--:
``(A) the application of sewage sludge to the land terminated more than one year before the date on which the poultry began to be raised on the land or the date on which the production of the animal feed on the land commenced; or:
``(B) the container bears a label that clearly indicates that the egg or egg product was derived from poultry that are raised, or that consume animal feed produced, on land on which sewage sludge was applied.''.:

(c) Adulterated Food Under Federal Meat Inspection Act.--Section 1(m) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601(m)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (8);:
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (9) and inserting ``; or''; and:
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph::
``(10) if it is derived from livestock that grazed, or consumed animal feed produced, on land on which sewage sludge was applied, unless--:
``(A) the application of sewage sludge to the land terminated more than one year before the date on which the livestock began grazing on the land or the date on which the production of the animal feed on the land commenced;:
``(B) the carcass, part thereof, meat or meat food product bears a label that clearly indicates that the livestock grazed, or consumed animal feed produced, on land on which sewage sludge was applied; or:
``(C) in the case of a carcass, part thereof, meat or meat food product generally offered for sale without labeling, a sign is posted within close proximity of the item to notify consumers that the livestock grazed, or consumed animal feed produced, on land on which sewage sludge was applied.''.:

(d) Adulterated Food Under Poultry Products Inspection Act.--:
Section 4(g) of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 453(g)) is amended--:
(1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (7);:
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and inserting ``; or''; and:
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(9) if it is derived from poultry that was raised, or that consumed animal feed produced, on land on which sewage sludge was applied, unless--:
``(A) the application of sewage sludge to the land terminated more than one year before the date on which the poultry began to be raised on the land or the date on which the production of the animal feed on the land commenced;:
``(B) the poultry product bears a label that clearly indicates that the poultry was raised, or consumed animal feed produced, on land on which sewage sludge was applied; or:
``(C) in the case of a poultry product generally offered for sale without labeling, a sign is posted within close proximity of the item to notify consumers that the poultry was raised, or consumed animal feed produced, on land on which sewage sludge was applied.''.:

(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Michelle Miller
UWEX-Agronomy
1575 Linden Drive
Madison,WI  53706

608/262-7135
FAX  262-5217
mmmille6@facstaff.wisc.edu

Home Office 608/255-1503
Home Fax     608/255-5885

Steve Bonney, President
Indiana Sustainable Agriculture Association
100 Georgton Ct.
W. Lafayette IN 47906
(317) 463-9366, fax (317) 497-0164
email sbonney@iquest.net

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