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H.R. 2558House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

SAFETY Act of 2025

Sponsored by Dusty JohnsonRep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD)
Introduced April 1, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 1:28 AM UTC

The SAFETY Act of 2025 amends the Agricultural Trade Act to protect the use of widely recognized product names – called “common names” – for U.S. foods, wines, and beers when they are sold abroad. By defining these names and listing examples, the bill aims to keep foreign markets open for U.S. producers using those familiar labels. It also directs the USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate trade agreements that safeguard these names and to report progress to Congress regularly.

Key Provisions

  • Creates a clear definition of “common name” for agricultural foods, wines, and beers – basically the name normally used on packaging and recognized by consumers and standards.
  • Lists many specific food, wine, and beer names that will be treated as common names, such as “American,” “Basil,” “Chateau,” “IPA,” etc.
  • Requires the USDA Secretary to work with the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate agreements that protect U.S. producers’ right to use these common names in foreign markets.
  • Adds a reporting requirement: the Secretary and Trade Representative must give semi‑annual briefings to key House and Senate committees on how those negotiations are going.
  • Adds a provision that forbids others from using the U.S. common names for agricultural products in ways that could harm U.S. exporters.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

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.

Agriculture Committee

April 1, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 1, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

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.

Agriculture Committee

April 1, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 1, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2558

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 1, 2025

Mr. Johnson of South Dakota (for himself, Mr. Costa, Mrs. Fischbach, and Mr. Panetta) 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

A BILL

To amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to preserve foreign markets for goods using common names, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields Act of 2025 or the SAFETY Act of 2025.

2.

Preserving foreign markets for goods using common names

(a)

Definitions

Section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602) is amended—

(1)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking As used in this Act— and inserting In this Act:;

(2)

by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as paragraphs (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (4), respectively, and reordering accordingly;

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2)

Common name

(A)

In general

The term common name means a name that—

(i)

is ordinarily or customarily used for an agricultural commodity or food product;

(ii)

is typically placed on the packaging and product label of the agricultural commodity or food product;

(iii)

with respect to wine—

(I)

is—

(aa)

ordinarily or customarily used for a wine grape varietal name; or

(bb)

a traditional term or expression that is typically placed on the packaging and label of the wine; and

(II)

does not mean any appellation of origin for wine listed in subpart C of part 9 of title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and

(iv)

the use of which is consistent with standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

(B)

Examples

The following names shall be considered common names under subparagraph (A):

(i)

With respect to food products:

(I)

American.

(II)

Asiago.

(III)

Basmati.

(IV)

Black forest ham.

(V)

Bologna.

(VI)

Bratwurst.

(VII)

Chevre.

(VIII)

Chorizo.

(IX)

Colby.

(X)

Feta.

(XI)

Fontina.

(XII)

Gorgonzola.

(XIII)

Grana.

(XIV)

Gruyere.

(XV)

Kielbasa.

(XVI)

Limburger and Limburgo.

(XVII)

Mascarpone.

(XVIII)

Monterey and Monterey jack.

(XIX)

Mortadella.

(XX)

Munster and muenster.

(XXI)

Neufchatel.

(XXII)

Parmesan.

(XXIII)

Pecorino.

(XXIV)

Pepper Jack.

(XXV)

Prosciutto.

(XXVI)

Ricotta.

(XXVII)

Romano.

(XXVIII)

Salami.

(XXIX)

Swiss.

(ii)

With respect to wine:

(I)

The list of grape varietal terms in section 4.91 of title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).

(II)

The grape variety designations administratively approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

(III)

The following nonvarietal descriptors:

(aa)

Chateau.

(bb)

Classic.

(cc)

Clos.

(dd)

Cream.

(ee)

Crusted and Crusting.

(ff)

Noble.

(gg)

Ruby.

(hh)

Sur lie.

(ii)

Tawny.

(jj)

Vintage.

(kk)

Vintage character.

(iii)

With respect to beer:

(I)

Bitter.

(II)

Pale Ale.

(III)

India Pale Ale.

(IV)

Mild.

(V)

Porter.

(VI)

Stout.

(VII)

Barleywine.

(VIII)

Dubbel.

(IX)

Quadrupel.

(X)

Witbier.

(XI)

Saison.

(XII)

Biere de Garde.

(XIII)

Oud Red.

(XIV)

Altbier.

(XV)

Weisse.

(XVI)

Gose.

(XVII)

Hefeweizen.

(XVIII)

Dunkel.

(XIX)

Helles.

(XX)

Rauchbier.

(XXI)

Pilsener.

(XXII)

Maerzen.

(XXIII)

Schwarzbier.

(XXIV)

Doppelbock.

(XXV)

Bock.

(XXVI)

Kellerbier.

(XXVII)

Munchener and Munich style.

(XXVIII)

Oktoberfest.

(XXIX)

Dortmunder.

(XXX)

Kolsch and Koelsch.

(XXXI)

Budejovick´e pivo (Budweiser beer).

(XXXII)

Cream.

(XXXIII)

Grodziskie.

(XXXIV)

Jerez and sherry.

(XXXV)

Lager.

(C)

Considerations

In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may take into account—

(i)

competent sources, such as dictionaries, newspapers, professional journals and literature, and information posted on websites that are determined by the Secretary to be reliable in reporting market information;

(ii)

the use of the common name in a domestic, regional, or international product standard, including a standard promulgated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, for the agricultural commodity or food product; and

(iii)

the ordinary and customary use of the common name in the production or marketing of the agricultural commodity or food product in the United States or in other countries.

; and

(4)

in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

in clause (v), by striking or at the end;

(B)

in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(vii)

prohibits or disallows the use of the common name of an agricultural commodity or food product of the United States.

.

(b)

Negotiations To defend use of common names

Title III of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5652 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

303.

Negotiations to defend the use of common names

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall coordinate efforts with the United States Trade Representative to secure the right of United States agricultural producers, processors, and exporters to use common names for agricultural commodities or food products in foreign markets through the negotiation of bilateral, plurilateral, or multilateral agreements, memoranda of understanding, or exchanges of letters that assure the current and future use of each common name in connection with United States agricultural commodities or food products.

(b)

Briefing

The Secretary and the United States Trade Representative shall jointly provide to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a semi-annual briefing on their efforts and success in carrying out subsection (a).

.