S. 421 – American Beef Labeling Act of 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 3:03 AM UTC

The American Beef Labeling Act of 2025 would change the 1946 Agricultural Marketing Act to require mandatory country‑of‑origin labels on all beef products, including ground beef and veal. It defines beef for the law, updates the labeling language, and tasks the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture with creating and applying a WTO‑compliant labeling system within a year. The new rules become effective once the system is officially implemented or after one year, whichever occurs first.

Key Provisions

Adds a definition of “beef” (including veal) to the Agricultural Marketing Act.
Amends existing labeling rules so that country‑of‑origin notices must specifically list beef, ground beef, and related products, just as they already do for lamb.
Requires the U.S. Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to decide within 180 days how to reinstate mandatory country‑of‑origin labeling for beef in a way that complies with World Trade Organization rules.
Mandates that the chosen labeling system be put into effect within one year of the bill’s passage.
Sets the effective date of the new labeling requirements as either when the implementation is officially published in the Federal Register or one year after enactment, whichever comes first.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S668)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

February 5, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 5, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S668)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

February 5, 2025

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about S. 421 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Feb 5, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. John BarrassoR-WY · Feb 5, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Feb 5, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Feb 5, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 5, 2025

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.