Skip to main content
HR 696 99th Congress House

Federal Food Irradiation Development and Control Act of 1985

Official title: A bill to provide Federal coordination for the continued development and commercialization of food irradiation through the establishment of a Joint Operating C… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to provide Federal coordination for the continued development and commercialization of food irradiation through the establishment of a Joint Operating Commission for Food Irradiation in the Department of Agriculture and through other means.

Introduced: January 24, 1985 See on congress.gov
Agriculture and Food Congressional oversightConsumer protectionDepartment of AgricultureEnvironmental Protection
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Executive reorganizationFederal preemptionFood additivesFood and Food IndustryFood irradiationGovernment records, documents, and informationHealthInformation servicesNuclear energyNuclear fuelsPublic safetyRadiationRadiation safetyRadioactive wastesState laws
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 13 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 20, 1985
Executive Comment Received From USDA.
Nov 18, 1985
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Oct 29, 1985
Executive Comment Requested from FDA.
Feb 26, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.
Feb 26, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Energy Conservation and Power.
Feb 20, 1985
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Feb 12, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems.
Feb 12, 1985
Executive Comment Requested from DOE.
Feb 7, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Department Operations, Research, and Foreign Agriculture.
Jan 24, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 24, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Armed Services.
Jan 24, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
Jan 24, 1985
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action December 20, 1985

Executive Comment Received From USDA.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Food Irradiation Development and Control Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to delete "sources of radiation" from the definition of "food additive". Defines "food irradiation treatment" as a food process.

Applies specified food additive regulatory provisions to food irradiation treatments.

Declares it to be the express intent of the Congress to require national uniformity in the regulation of food irradiation treatment. Prohibits States or their political subdivisions from establishing food irradiation requirements different from, or in addition to, Federal requirements.

Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to state that the Department of Energy may lease at fair market rates nuclear byproduct material for commercial food irradiation purposes.

Establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Joint Operating Commission for Food Irradiation Treatment. Includes within such Commission's functions: (1) research and information exchange coordination; (2) encouragement of private enterprise in the development of food irradiation treatment; and (3) an annual report to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 288 Identical bill Federal Food Irradiation Development and Control Act of 1985
 Committees of jurisdiction 7
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jun 27, 1985
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · May 15, 1985
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 696: Federal Food Irradiation Development and Control Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-696/
MLA
"H.R. 696: Federal Food Irradiation Development and Control Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-696/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 696, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-696/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 696: Federal Food Irradiation Development and Control Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-696/)
Report a problem