Reps. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced the Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act of 2023, MEAT+POULTRY reported on August 4, 2023. The bill would require beef labeled “made in the USA” to come from animals “exclusively born, raised, slaughtered and packaged in the United States.”
What the bill would do
- Set a strict USA-origin standard for beef origin labels.
- Fine processors $5,000 per pound of beef incorrectly labeled.
- It drew support from R-CALF USA, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and Farm Action Fund.
The wider push
A separate bipartisan Senate bill to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef was reintroduced in January 2023 and picked up Sens. John Hoeven and Ben Ray Luján as cosponsors that summer, Food Safety News reported. Congress repealed MCOOL for beef and pork in 2015 after WTO rulings. In March 2023 USDA also proposed limiting the voluntary “Product of USA” claim on meat to animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the USA.
“Clarifying what it means to be ‘made in the USA’ will give consumers greater confidence in what they feed their families, support local farmers and economies, and crack down on deceptive labeling practices by the big four meatpackers.”
Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.)
FAQ
Who introduced the bill?
Reps. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
What is the penalty?
$5,000 per pound of beef incorrectly labeled.
How is it different from USDA’s proposal?
It is legislation with fines; USDA’s March 2023 proposal changes the voluntary Product of USA label rule.
Source & credit
Source: MEAT+POULTRY, August 4, 2023: “Legislators propose stricter country of origin labeling requirements”.
Also: Food Safety News, July 5, 2023: “MCOOL bill unites agricultural, and consumer interests with bipartisan sponsors”.