Sen. Conrad Burns (R-M) has introduced a bill to prohibit using the USDA grade label stamp on imported meat.  Only U.S. produced meat and meat products or live cattle that have been in the United States for at least 90 days could receive the grade stamp.

Burns says since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, many countries, especially Canada and Mexico, have shipped meat into this country with the USDA label, "often to the detriment of American producers."

"Most (U.S.) consumers assume that meat products stamped with the USDA label are American products when this is often not the case," he says.  "Foreign meat exporters have been getting a free ride at the expense of American producers for far too long.  I want to ensure that our meat producers are no longer put at a disadvantage when competing with imported meat products, and this bill will do just that."