[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2602 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2602

   To require country of origin labeling of perishable agricultural 
  commodities imported into the United States and to impose criminal 
          fines for violations of such labeling requirements.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 9, 1995

   Mr. Bono (for himself, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Hunter, Mr. 
 Moorhead, and Mr. Stockman) introduced the following bill; which was 
                referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require country of origin labeling of perishable agricultural 
  commodities imported into the United States and to impose criminal 
          fines for violations of such labeling requirements.

    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 ``Imported Food Labeling Act of 
1995''.

SEC. 2. INDICATION OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF IMPORTED PERISHABLE 
              AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.

    (a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms 
``perishable agricultural commodity'', ``commission merchant'', 
``dealer'', and ``broker'' have the meanings given such terms in 
section 1(b) of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (7 
U.S.C. 499a(b)).
    (b) Country of Origin Label Required.--The country of origin of a 
perishable agricultural commodity imported into the United States shall 
be indicated by means of a label, stamp, mark, placard, or other clear 
and visible sign on the commodity or on the package, display, holding 
unit, or bin containing the commodity at the final point of sale to 
consumers.
    (c) Fines for Violation.--Any commission merchant, dealer, or 
broker who knowingly fails to indicate the country of origin of an 
imported perishable agricultural commodity as required by subsection 
(b) shall be subject to a criminal fine in an amount not to exceed 
$5,000 per violation. The Secretary of Agriculture shall notify the 
Attorney General of suspected violations of the labeling requirements 
of subsection (b).
    (d) Deposit of Fines.--Fines collected under subsection (c) shall 
be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous 
receipts.
    (e) Application of Section.--This section shall apply with respect 
to perishable agricultural commodities imported into the United States 
after the end of the six-month period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this section.
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