§ 7624. — Biobased products.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC7624]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 103--AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION REFORM
SUBCHAPTER II--NEW AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
INITIATIVES
Sec. 7624. Biobased products
(a) ``Biobased product'' defined
In this section, the term ``biobased product'' means a product
suitable for food or nonfood use that is derived in whole or in part
from renewable agricultural and forestry materials.
(b) Coordination of biobased product activities
The Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) coordinate the research, technical expertise, economic
information, and market information resources and activities of the
Department to develop, commercialize, and promote the use of
biobased products;
(2) solicit input from private sector persons who produce, or
are interested in producing, biobased products;
(3) provide a centralized contact point for advice and technical
assistance for promising and innovative biobased products; and
(4) submit an annual report to Congress describing the
coordinated research, marketing, and commercialization activities of
the Department relating to biobased products.
(c) Cooperative agreements for biobased products
(1) Agreements authorized
The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with private
entities described in subsection (d) of this section, under which
the facilities and technical expertise of the Agricultural Research
Service may be made available to operate pilot plants and other
large-scale preparation facilities for the purpose of bringing
technologies necessary for the development and commercialization of
new biobased products to the point of practical application.
(2) Description of cooperative activities
Cooperative activities may include--
(A) research on potential environmental impacts of a
biobased product;
(B) methods to reduce the cost of manufacturing a biobased
product; and
(C) other appropriate research.
(d) Eligible partners
The following entities shall be eligible to enter into a cooperative
agreement under subsection (c) of this section:
(1) A party that has entered into a cooperative research and
development agreement with the Secretary under section 12 of the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3710a).
(2) A recipient of funding from the Biotechnology Research and
Development Corporation.
(3) A recipient of funding from the Secretary under a Small
Business Innovation Research Program established under section 638
of title 15.
(e) Pilot project
The Secretary, acting through the Agricultural Research Service, may
establish and carry out a pilot project under which grants are provided,
on a competitive basis, to scientists of the Agricultural Research
Service to--
(1) encourage innovative and collaborative science; and
(2) during each of fiscal years 1999 through 2007, develop
biobased products with promising commercial potential.
(f) Source of funds
(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), to carry out this section,
the Secretary may use--
(A) funds appropriated to carry out this section; and
(B) funds otherwise available for cooperative research and
development agreements under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
(2) Exception
The Secretary may not use funds referred to in paragraph (1)(B)
to carry out subsection (e) of this section.
(g) Sale of developed products
For the purpose of determining the market potential for new biobased
products produced at a pilot plant or other large-scale preparation
facility under a cooperative agreement under this section, the Secretary
shall authorize the private partner or partners to the agreement to sell
the products.
(h) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2007.
(Pub. L. 105-185, title IV, Sec. 404, June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 570; Pub.
L. 107-171, title VI, Sec. 6201(d)(4), title VII, Sec. 7124, May 13,
2002, 116 Stat. 419, 434.)
References in Text
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, referred to
in subsec. (f)(1)(B), is Pub. L. 96-480, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2311,
as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 63 (Sec. 3701 et
seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of
this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3701 of
Title 15 and Tables.
Amendments
2002--Subsec. (d)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 107-171, Sec. 6201(d)(4),
redesignated pars. (3) and (4) as (2) and (3), respectively, and struck
out former par. (2) which read as follows: ``A recipient of funding from
the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation
established under section 5902 of this title.''
Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 107-171, Sec. 7124(a), substituted ``2007''
for ``2001''.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107-171, Sec. 7124(b), substituted ``2007'' for
``2002''.
Ex. Ord. No. 13134. Developing and Promoting Biobased Products and
Bioenergy
Ex. Ord. No. 13134, Aug. 12, 1999, 64 F.R. 44639, as amended, was
transferred and is set out as a note under section 8101 of this title.
