American Beef Labeling Act of 2021
Bill: S.2716 | Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John (R-SD)
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
American Beef Labeling Act of 2021
This bill reinstates mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef.
Specifically, the bill requires the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to develop a means of reinstating the requirements that complies with the rules of the World Trade Organization. The USTR and the Department of Agriculture must implement the means within one year.

To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish country of 
     origin labeling requirements for beef, and for other purposes.

    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 ``American Beef Labeling Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING FOR BEEF.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 281 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as 
        paragraphs (2) through (8), respectively;
            (2) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) 
        the following:
            ``(1) Beef.--The term `beef' means meat produced from 
        cattle (including veal).''; and
            (3) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) (as so 
        redesignated)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by inserting ``, beef,'' after 
                ``lamb''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``, ground beef,'' 
                after ``lamb''.
    (b) Notice of Country of Origin.--Section 282(a)(2) of the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638a(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``beef,'' after 
        ``for'';
            (2) in each of subparagraphs (A) through (D), by inserting 
        ``beef,'' before ``lamb'' each place it appears; and
            (3) in subparagraph (E)--
                    (A) in the subparagraph heading, by inserting 
                ``beef,'' after ``Ground''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``ground beef,'' before ``ground 
                lamb'' each place it appears.
    (c) Means of Reinstating MCOOL for Beef.--
            (1) Determination of means.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the United States Trade 
        Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of 
        Agriculture, shall determine a means of reinstating mandatory 
        country of origin labeling for beef in accordance with the 
        amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) that is in 
        compliance with all applicable rules of the World Trade 
        Organization.
            (2) Implementation of means.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the United States Trade 
        Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture shall implement 
        the means determined under paragraph (1).
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
take effect on the earlier of--
            (1) the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture 
        publishes a determination in the Federal Register that the 
        means determined under paragraph (1) of subsection (c) have 
        been implemented under paragraph (2) of that subsection; and
            (2) the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of 
        this Act.
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