Imported Meat Labeling Act of 1999 (Introduced in the House)

HR 222 IH

106th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 222

To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require that imported meat, and meat food products containing imported meat, bear a label identifying the country of origin.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 6, 1999

Mrs. CHENOWETH (for herself, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. STUMP, Mr. WATKINS, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. MCHUGH, Mrs. BONO, Mr. NETHERCUTT, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HILL of Montana, Mr. THUNE, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. EDWARDS, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. SOUDER, Mrs. THURMAN, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. COBURN, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. REGULA, Mr. CHAMBLISS, and Mr. WELDON of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require that imported meat, and meat food products containing imported meat, bear a label identifying the country of origin.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Imported Meat Labeling Act of 1999'.

SEC. 2 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING OF IMPORTED MEAT AND MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS.

(a) LABELING REQUIRED- Section 1(n) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601(n)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(13)(A) If it is imported into the United States unless is bears or is accompanied by labeling that identifies the country of origin of the animal that is the source of the imported carcass, part thereof, or meat or is part of the contents of the imported meat food product.

`(B) If it is a meat food product prepared in the United States using any carcass, part thereof, or meat imported into the United States unless the meat food product bears or is accompanied by labeling that identifies the country origin of the animal that is the source of the imported carcass, part thereof, or meat.

`(C) In this paragraph, the term `country of origin' means the country or countries in which an animal is raised before slaughter.'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- Section 1(n) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act is amended--

(1) by striking `if' at the beginning of each of paragraphs (1) through (12) and inserting `If';

(2) by striking the semicolon at the end of each of paragraphs (1) through (10) and inserting a period; and

(3) in paragraph (11), by striking `; or' at the end and inserting a period.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.