Truth in Quality Grading Act of 1999 (Introduced in the Senate)
S 241 IS
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 241
To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to provide that a quality grade
label issued by the Secretary of Agriculture for beef and lamb may not
be used for imported beef or imported lamb.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 19, 1999
Mr. JOHNSON (for himself and Mr. ENZI) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry
A BILL
To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to provide that a quality grade
label issued by the Secretary of Agriculture for beef and lamb may not
be used for imported beef or imported lamb.
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 `Truth in Quality Grading Act of 1999'.
SEC. 2. QUALITY GRADE LABELING OF BEEF AND LAMB.
(a) DEFINITIONS- Section 1 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C.
601) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(w) BEEF- The term `beef' means meat produced from cattle (including
veal).
`(x) IMPORTED BEEF- The term `imported beef' means beef that is not
United States beef, whether or not the beef is graded with a quality grade
issued by the Secretary.
`(y) IMPORTED LAMB- The term `imported lamb' means lamb that is not
United States lamb, whether or not the lamb is graded with a quality grade
issued by the Secretary.
`(z) LAMB- The term `lamb' means meat, other than mutton, produced
from sheep.
`(aa) UNITED STATES BEEF-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The term `United States beef' means beef produced
from cattle slaughtered in the United States.
`(2) EXCLUSION- The term `United States beef' does not include beef
produced from cattle imported into the United States in sealed trucks for
slaughter.
`(bb) UNITED STATES LAMB-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The term `United States lamb' means lamb produced
from sheep slaughtered in the United States.
`(2) EXCLUSION- The term `United States lamb' does not include lamb
produced from sheep imported into the United States in sealed trucks for
slaughter.'.
(b) MISBRANDING- Section 1(n) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21
U.S.C. 601(n)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (11), by striking `or' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end and inserting
`; or'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(13) if it is imported beef or imported lamb and bears a label that
indicates a quality grade issued by the Secretary.'.
(c) REGULATIONS- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate final regulations
to carry out the amendments made by this section.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section take effect
60 days after the date on which final regulations are promulgated under
subsection (c).