H.R.7291 - American Beef Labeling Act of 2022 was cosponsored by Ro Khanna.
It was referred to the Agriculture, Ways and Means committees.
This bill reinstates mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef.
Specifically, the bill requires the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to develop a means of reinstating the requirements that complies with the rules of the World Trade Organization. The USTR and the Department of Agriculture must implement the means within one year.
117th CONGRESS 2d Session |
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish country of origin labeling requirements for beef, and for other purposes.
March 30, 2022
Mr. Gooden of Texas (for himself and Mr. Khanna) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish country of origin labeling requirements for beef, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “American Beef Labeling Act of 2022”.
SEC. 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
(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.
You can read the bill here.
