FISH INSPECTION LEGISLATION HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.< OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, UNITED STATES, SENATE, 1126 SLL 10-29-71 Wood, Dr. John, associate professor of biochemistry, University of Illinois_ 125 133 Edwards, Dr. Charles C., Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration; Perry, Dr. Mitchell, associate professor of medicine, Washington Univer- Robinson, H. R., chairman, Fishery Products Committee, National Can- ners Association; accompanied by Dr. Ira I. Somers, director of the association's research laboratories; and Edward Dunkelberger, gen- Weddig, Lee, executive director, National Fisheries Institute; accom- Statement of Dr. Goldwater_ Letter from Mr. Weddig, June 29, 1971_. 173 162 205 229 259 ADDITIONAL ARTICLES, LETTERS, AND STATEMENTS Page American Shrimp Canners Association, statement_ 301 City Reports Mercury Level in Fish Eaters' Diet Is Safe, article. 262 289 Klein, David H., professor of chemistry, Hope College, letter of March 15, 1971 287 Mercury in the Environment, article by Dr. Leonard J. Goldwater___ 222 322 National Consumers League, statement_ 329 Robinson, H. R., chairman, Fishery Products Committee, National Canners 326 Purdy, Dr. William C., statement-- 292 Schroeder, Dr. Henry A., professor of physiology, Dartmouth Medical 289 Schulert, Dr. Arthur, Ph. D.. president, Environmental Science and Engineering Corp., Nashville, Tenn., statement__. 294 Seacoast Region: Swordfish Ban "Stupid" Says Scientist, article from the 262 See No Threat To Fish-Eaters, article from the New York Times.. 262 299 296 Water Pollution and Minamate Disease, article by Raisaku Kiyoura............. 234 FISH INSPECTION LEGISLATION THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1971 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 11:05 a.m., in room 1318, New Senate Office Building, Senator Philip A. Hart (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Hart, Hatfield, and Stevens. OPENING STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN Permit me first to make a brief opening statement. This is the Subcommittee on the Environment of the Committee on Commerce. Today we begin a 2-day set of hearings on proposed fish inspection legislation. Specifically we will be considering the administration's S. 700, Senator Kennedy's S. 296, and S. 1528, which I introduced several weeks ago. In previous Congresses we have, as a Committee on Commerce, considered bills similar in character. We were unable to reach any agreement on which proposals or combinations were most desirable. However, this committee will draw heavily on the hearing record which considered those earlier bills as we consider the subject matter at issue. This week's hearings will concentrate on a provision of S. 1528which is new this year and on which no testimony has yet been taken. The proposal, which is aimed at the growing threat to human health through contamination of fish by environmental pollutants, would require intensive screening of fish and fishery products for all toxic materials by the Food and Drug Administration. Last year, the subcommittee investigated the nationwide mercury crisis as well as potential dangers to humans posed by other toxic metals. What is proposed today is essentially an outgrowth of those investigations. Under the new provision, FDA would be required to develop list of dangerous polluting substances and to prescribe procedures necessary to eliminate the threat they pose to human health through the consumption of fish. It is provided that private citizens could challenge both the list and the procedures by petitioning the Administration. Those adversely affected by his decisions would be further entitled to public hearings and judicial review of his action. Had this system been in effect several years ago, the present mercury crisis might well have been less acute. It is worth noting that Dr. Staff member assigned to this hearing: Leonard Bickwit. (1) |