S 1669 IS

To require country of origin labeling of peanuts and peanut products and to establish penalties for violations of the labeling requirements.

To require country of origin labeling of peanuts and peanut products and to establish penalties for violations of the labeling requirements.

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 `Peanut Labeling Act of 1999'.

SEC. 2. INDICATION OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF PEANUTS AND PEANUT PRODUCTS.

(a) DEFINITIONS- In this section:

(1) PEANUT PRODUCT- The term `peanut product' means any product more than 3 percent of the retail value of which is derived from peanuts contained in the product.

(2) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(b) NOTICE OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN REQUIRED-

(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), a retailer of peanuts or peanut products produced in, or imported into, the United States (including any peanut product that contains peanuts that are not produced in the United States) shall inform consumers, at the final point of sale to consumers, of the country of origin of the peanuts or peanut products.

(2) WAIVER- The Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1) to a retailer of peanuts or peanut products if the retailer demonstrates to the Secretary it is impracticable for the retailer to determine the country of origin of the peanuts or peanut products.

(c) METHOD OF NOTIFICATION-

(1) IN GENERAL- The information required by subsection (b) may be provided to consumers by means of a label, stamp, mark, placard, or other clear and visible sign on the peanuts or peanut products or on the package, display, holding unit, or bin containing the peanuts or peanut products at the final point of sale to consumers.

(2) EXISTING LABELING- If the peanuts or peanut products are already labeled regarding country of origin by the packer, importer, or another person, the retailer shall not be required to provide any additional information in order to comply with this section.

(d) VIOLATIONS- If a retailer fails to indicate the country of origin of peanuts or peanut products as required by subsection (b), the Secretary may impose a civil penalty on the retailer in an amount not to exceed--

(1) $1,000 for the first day on which the violation occurs; and

(2) $250 for each day on which the violation continues.

(e) DEPOSIT OF FUNDS- Amounts collected under subsection (d) shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.

(f) APPLICATION- This section shall apply with respect to peanuts and peanut products produced in, or imported into, the United States after the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.