S. 52

American Beef Labeling Act of 2023

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II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 52

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2023

Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Tester, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Booker, Ms. Lummis, and Mrs. Gillibrand) 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 2023.

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.