S. 421

119 S421 IS: American Beef Labeling Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-02-05
 text/xml
 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 421  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   February 5, 2025   Mr. Thune  (for himself,  Mr. Booker ,  Mr. Rounds ,  Mr. Heinrich ,  Ms. Lummis ,  Mr. Fetterman , and  Mr. Hoeven ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry    A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish country of origin labeling requirements for beef, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   American Beef Labeling Act of 2025  .
2.
Country of origin labeling for beef
(a)
Definitions
Section 281 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ( 7 U.S.C. 1638 ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as paragraphs (2) through (8), respectively;
(2)
by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:
(1)
Beef
The term  beef  means meat produced from cattle (including veal).
 ; and
(3)
in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)—
(A)
in clause (i), by inserting  , beef,  after  lamb ; and
(B)
in clause (ii), by inserting  , ground beef,  after  lamb .
(b)
Notice of country of origin
Section 282(a)(2) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ( 7 U.S.C. 1638a(a)(2) ) is amended—
(1)
in the paragraph heading, by inserting
beef,   after
for  ;
(2)
in each of subparagraphs (A) through (D), by inserting  beef,  before  lamb  each place it appears; and
(3)
in subparagraph (E)—
(A)
in the subparagraph heading, by inserting
beef,   after
Ground  ; and
(B)
by inserting  ground beef,  before  ground lamb  each place it appears.
(c)
Means of reinstating MCOOL for beef
(1)
Determination of means
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall determine a means of reinstating mandatory country of origin labeling for beef in accordance with the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) that is in compliance with all applicable rules of the World Trade Organization.
(2)
Implementation of means
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture shall implement the means determined under paragraph (1).
(d)
Effective date
The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) take effect on the earlier of—
(1)
the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture publishes a determination in the Federal Register that the means determined under paragraph (1) of subsection (c) have been implemented under paragraph (2) of that subsection; and
(2)
the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.