I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4199 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 16, 2023 
Mr. SOTO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Edu-
cation Reform Act of 1998 to establish and carry out 
a pilot program to use blockchain technology in food 
safety and labeling. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM ON THE USE OF BLOCKCHAIN 
TECHNOLOGY IN FOOD SAFETY AND LABEL-
ING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title IV of the Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 is 
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amended by inserting after section 412 (7 U.S.C. 7632) 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 413. PILOT PROGRAM ON THE USE OF BLOCKCHAIN 
TECHNOLOGY IN FOOD SAFETY AND LABEL-
ING. 
‘‘(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), the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products In-
spection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.), or the 
Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 
et seq.); and 
‘‘(B) food that has been subject to a vol-
untary recall or a mandatory recall under sec-
tion 423 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cos-
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metic Act (21 U.S.C. 3501), the Federal Meat 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 
451 et seq.), or the Egg Products Inspection 
Act (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.); and 
‘‘(3) other purposes as the Secretary determines 
appropriate. 
‘‘(c) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—The Sec-
retary 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 enact-
ment of this section. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
pilot program terminates under subsection (d), the Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
ate a report on the results of the pilot program.’’. 
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(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.) is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 412 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘413. Pilot program on the use of blockchain technology in food safety and la-
beling.’’. 
Æ 
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