,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dece ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #d1 #bjag,ms4 ,de,lauro 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,slaughter1 and ,mr4 ,gutirrez7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish limitations on the quantity of inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products under chapter ,,iv of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reducing food-based ,inorganic ,compounds ,exposure ,act of #bjag or the ,,rice ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,according to the ,world ,health ,organization1 arsenic is a natural component of the ,earth's crust and is widely and variably distributed throughout the environment in the air1 water1 and land4 ,it is also used commercially in herbicides and poultry feed4 7#b7 ,arsenic is most toxic in its inorganic form4 7#c7 ,inorganic arsenic is a known carcinogen and long-term oral exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic is associated with developmental defects1 cardiovascular disease1 neurotoxicity1 and diabetes1 according to the ,world ,health ,organization4 7#d7 ,according to the ,european ,food ,safety ,authority1 the estimated exposure of young children to inorganic arsenic is #b to #c times the exposure of adults to inorganic arsenic4 7#e7 ,according to the ,european ,food ,safety ,authority1 diet is the main source of arsenic exposure for most individuals4 7#f7 ,according to the ,food and ,drug ,administration1 due to absorption from the soil and water1 arsenic is present in many foods1 including grains1 fruits1 and vegetables4 7#g7 ,rice takes up inorganic arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains1 according to the ,food and ,drug ,administration4 7#h7 ,rice is a staple food in the diet of many individuals in the ,united ,states and is often one of the first foods fed to infants4 ,according to the ,food and ,drug ,administration1 inorganic arsenic has been detected in an infant's first foods1 such as infant rice cereal and brown rice syrup used in an increasing number of products including toddler formula and snack bars4 ,inorganic arsenic is also found in other rice products including children's breakfast cereals and rice itself4 ,rice may continue to be a large part of the diet of children who have swallowing difficulties and gastrointestinal reflux1 according to the ,american ,academy of ,pediatrics4 7#i7 ,the ,food and ,drug ,administration's analysis of approximately #a1cjj samples found that the average levels of inorganic arsenic for various rice and rice products are #j4a to #g4b micrograms per serving4 7#aj7 ,the ,environmental ,protection ,agency limits concentrations of arsenic in all forms in drinking water to #aj parts per billion4 ,the ,food and ,drug ,administration has established a limit of #aj parts per billion in bottled water1 and has also proposed a limit of #aj parts per billion in apple juice4 ,however1 there are no ,federal limits for arsenic in most foods1 including rice for adults and children or baby foods4 #c4 ,establishment of limitation on inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products 7a7 ,regulation required ,for the purpose of protecting the public health1 not later than the day that is #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,commissioner of ,food and ,drugs and acting under the ,secretary's authority under chapter ,,iv of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cda et seq471 shall promulgate a final regulation establishing the minimum quantity of inorganic arsenic contained in rice or a rice product which shall cause the rice or rice product1 respectively1 to be deemed to be adulterated under section #djb of such ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cdc74 7b7 ,scope of regulation ,the minimum quantity established under subsection 7a7 shall apply to rice and rice products containing inorganic arsenic regardless of whether the arsenic is present as a result of a natural process1 an ingredient added to a food1 the use of a pesticide1 or other means4 7c7 ,regulation includes tolerances ,the regulation under subsection 7a7 shall include the establishment of a tolerance under section #djf and section #djh of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cdf2 #cdf;a74 7d7 ,minimum stringency ,the standard established under subsection 7a7 7and any subsequent revision thereto7 for inorganic arsenic contained in rice or a rice product shall-- 7#a7 be based on the maximum achievable reduction in health risks to individuals1 taking into account the cancer effects1 neurodevelopmental effects1 and other health effects of arsenic exposure2 7#b7 be protective of the long-term health of children1 taking into account-- 7,a7 the differing eating patterns of children2 7,b7 the rate of brain development in children2 7,c7 any differences in the metabolization of arsenic in children1 as compared to adults2 and 7,d7 the fact that children have a longer expected life span than adults2 and 7#c7 include separate standards for rice milk and other frequently consumed rice-based foods1 especially rice-based foods frequently consumed by infants and children4 7e7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act3 7#a7 ,food ,the term food has the meaning given such term in section #bja7;f7 of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cba7;f774 7#b7 ,inorganic arsenic ,the term inorganic arsenic means inorganic arsenic and its metabolites4 7#c7 ,rice ,the term rice means a food that is rice4 7#d7 ,rice product ,the term rice product means a food that contains an ingredient made from rice4 #d4 ,report on inorganic arsenic in rice 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit a report to the ,congress on inorganic arsenic in rice grown in the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,contents ,the report under subsection 7a7 shall include-- 7#a7 an analysis of-- 7,a7 the agronomy and production management practices that will reduce inorganic arsenic in rice2 7,b7 the germplasm analysis and breeding that may reduce inorganic arsenic in rice2 7,c7 the analytical technology improvements needed to address the issue of inorganic arsenic in rice2 and 7,d7 the current efforts of ,federal agencies to reduce inorganic arsenic in the food supply2 7#b7 recommendations for actions by the ,federal ,government in order to reduce the presence of inorganic arsenic in rice grown in the ,united ,states2 and 7#c7 recommendations for additional research on inorganic arsenic in rice1 including the estimated cost for such research4