To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require that imported beef
or lamb bear a label identifying the country of origin. (Introduced in
the Senate)
S 251 IS
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 251
To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require that imported beef
or lamb bear a label identifying the country of origin.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 19, 1999
Mr. BURNS (for himself, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. THOMAS, 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 require that imported beef
or lamb 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. LABELING OF IMPORTED MEAT AND MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS.
(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) LAMB- The term `lamb' means meat, other than mutton, produced
from sheep.
`(y) IMPORTED BEEF- The term `imported beef' means any beef, including
any fresh muscle cuts, ground meat, trimmings, and beef in another meat
food product, that is not United States beef, whether or not the beef is
graded with a quality grade issued by the Secretary.
`(z) IMPORTED LAMB- The term `imported lamb' means any lamb, including
any fresh muscle cuts, ground meat, trimmings, and lamb in another meat
food product, that is not United States lamb, whether or not the lamb is
graded with a quality grade issued by the Secretary.
`(aa) UNITED STATES BEEF-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The term `United States beef' means beef produced
from cattle slaughtered in the United States.
`(2) EXCLUSIONS- The term `United States beef' does not include--
`(A) beef produced from cattle imported into the United States in sealed
trucks for slaughter;
`(B) beef produced from imported carcasses;
`(C) imported beef trimmings; or
`(D) imported boxed beef.
`(bb) UNITED STATES LAMB-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The term `United States lamb' means lamb, except mutton,
produced from sheep slaughtered in the United States.
`(2) EXCLUSIONS- The term `United States lamb' does not include--
`(A) lamb produced from sheep imported into the United States in sealed
trucks for slaughter;
`(B) lamb produced from an imported carcass;
`(C) imported lamb trimmings; or
`(D) imported boxed lamb.'.
(1) IN GENERAL- 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 beef or imported lamb offered for retail
sale as fresh muscle cuts of beef or lamb and is not accompanied by labeling
that identifies the country of origin.
`(B) If it is ground beef made from imported beef and is not accompanied
by labeling that identifies it as blended with imported beef or other designation
that identifies the percentage content of imported beef contained in the
product, as determined by the Secretary.'.
(2) VOLUNTARY LABELING OF DOMESTIC GROUND BEEF- Section 7 of the Federal
Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 607) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
`(g) VOLUNTARY LABELING OF DOMESTIC GROUND BEEF- The Secretary may
authorize persons, firms, and corporations to affix to a container of ground
beef that is made entirely from domestic beef a label that indicates that
the ground beef is made entirely from domestic beef.'.
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 20(a) of the Federal Meat Inspection
Act (21 U.S.C. 620(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: `All
imported beef or imported lamb offered for retail sale as fresh muscle
cuts of beef or lamb shall be plainly and conspicuously marked, labeled,
or otherwise identified to indicate its country of origin.'.