To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to establish and carry out a pilot program to use blockchain technology in food safety and labeling.

To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to establish and carry out a pilot program to use blockchain technology in food safety and labeling. 1. Pilot program on the use of blockchain technology in food safety and labeling (a) In general Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting after section 412 ( 7 U.S.C. 7632 413. Pilot program on the use of blockchain technology in food safety and labeling (a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, shall establish and carry out a pilot program to use blockchain technology in food safety and labeling. (b) Requirements The pilot program required under subsection (a) shall, to the extent practicable, use blockchain technology for— (1) tracing— (A) food that may be adulterated within the meaning of section 402 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 342 21 U.S.C. 601 et seq. 21 U.S.C. 451 et seq. 21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq. (B) food that has been subject to a voluntary recall or a mandatory recall under section 423 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 3501 21 U.S.C. 601 et seq. 21 U.S.C. 451 et seq. 21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq. (2) verifying that food labeled as organic has been produced and handled in accordance with standards for organic certification under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq. (3) other purposes as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Memorandum of understanding The Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to implement the pilot program. (d) Duration The pilot program shall terminate on the date that is four years after the date of the enactment of this section. (e) Report Not later than 180 days after the pilot program terminates under subsection (d), the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the results of the pilot program. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents for the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 ( 7 U.S.C. 7601 et seq. 413. Pilot program on the use of blockchain technology in food safety and labeling. .

Summary: This bill directs the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to establish and carry out a pilot program to use blockchain technology in food safety and food labeling. (In general, a blockchain is a digital database containing information that can be simultaneously used and shared within a large decentralized, publicly accessible network.) Specifically, the pilot program must, to the extent practicable, use blockchain technology to (1) trace food that may be adulterated and food that has been subject to a voluntary or mandatory recall; and (2) verify that food labeled as organic has been produced and handled in accordance with specific organic certification standards. The Department of Agriculture must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Food and Drug Administration to implement the program.