Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/244

 104 STAT. 3566 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 7 USC 1622 note Subtltlc C—Cosnictic Appearance SEC. 1351. DEFINITION. As used in this subtitle, the term "cosmetic appearance" means the exterior appearance of an agricultural commodity, including changes to that appearance resulting from superficial damage or other alteration that do not significantly affect jdeld, taste, or nutritional value. SEC. 1352. RESEARCH. (a) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct research to examine the effects, to the extent listed in subsection (b), of grade standards and other regulations, as developed and promulgated pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), and other statutes governing cosmetic appearance. GJ) SCOPE OF RESEARCH.—The primary goal of this research is to investigate the extent to which grade standards and other regulations governing cosmetic appearance affect pesticide use in the production of perishable commodities. The research shall also— (1) determine pesticide application levels for United States perishable commodity production and assess trends, and factors influencing those trends, of pesticide application levels since 1975; (2) determine the extent to which Federal grade standards and other regulations affect pesticide use in agriculture for cosmetic appearance; (3) determine the effect of reducing emphasis on cosmetic appearance in grade standards and other regulations on— (A) the application and availability of pesticides in agriculture; (B) the adoption of agricultural practices that result in reduced pesticide use; (C) production and marketing costs; (D) domestic and international markets and trade for perishable commodities; (4) determine the extent to which grade standards and other regulations reflect consumer preferences; (5) develop options for implementation of food marketing policies and practices that will remove obstacles that may exist to pesticide use reduction, based on the findings of research conducted under this section. (c) FIELD RESEARCH.— (1) LENGTH OF PROJECTS.— The Secretary of Agriculture shall implement, not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, a minimum of three, 2-year market research projects, in at least three States, to demonstrate and evaluate the feasibility of consumer education and information programs. (2) SCOPE OF FIELD RESEARCH.—Research under paragraph (1) shall be conducted to evaluate programs designed to— (A) offer consumers choices among perishable commodities produced with different production practices; (B) provide consumers with information about agricultural practices used in the production of perishable commodities; or

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