A bill to temporarily suspend the importation of beef and beef products from Paraguay and to require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by beef imported from Paraguay, and for other purposes.

Bill: 118-s-3386
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2023-12-04
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Latest action: action_date: 2023-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3386 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 4, 2023 Mr. Rounds (for himself and Mr. Tester ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To temporarily suspend the importation of beef and beef products from Paraguay and to require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by beef imported from Paraguay, and for other purposes.

1. Temporary suspension of imports of beef and beef products from Paraguay Beef and beef products imported from Paraguay may not enter the United States during the period— (1) beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) ending on the date on which the working group established under section 2 submits the recommendations required by subsection (a)(3) of that section if the working group determines under subsection (a)(1) of that section that beef and beef products imported from Paraguay do not pose a threat to food safety and animal health in the United States. 2. Working group on beef imported from Paraguay (a) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a working group— (1) to evaluate the threat posed by beef and beef products imported from Paraguay to food safety and animal health in the United States; (2) to report on the most recent disease data and conduct additional research on the threat to food safety and animal health; and (3) to make recommendations to the Secretary with respect to whether the importation of beef and beef products from Paraguay into the United States should be permitted. (b) Membership The Secretary shall ensure that the working group established under subsection (a) includes— (1) experts on food safety; (2) experts on animal health; and (3) representatives of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other Federal agencies with responsibilities relating to international trade.