[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1669 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1669

 To require country of origin labeling of peanuts and peanut products 
and to establish penalties for violations of the labeling requirements.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 30, 1999

  Mr. Cleland introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require country of origin labeling of peanuts and peanut products 
and to establish penalties for violations of the 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 ``Peanut Labeling Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. INDICATION OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF PEANUTS AND PEANUT PRODUCTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Peanut product.--The term ``peanut product'' means any 
        product more than 3 percent of the retail value of which is 
        derived from peanuts contained in the product.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
    (b) Notice of Country of Origin Required.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a retailer of 
        peanuts or peanut products produced in, or imported into, the 
        United States (including any peanut product that contains 
        peanuts that are not produced in the United States) shall 
        inform consumers, at the final point of sale to consumers, of 
        the country of origin of the peanuts or peanut products.
            (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the application of 
        paragraph (1) to a retailer of peanuts or peanut products if 
        the retailer demonstrates to the Secretary it is impracticable 
        for the retailer to determine the country of origin of the 
        peanuts or peanut products.
    (c) Method of Notification.--
            (1) In general.--The information required by subsection (b) 
        may be provided to consumers by means of a label, stamp, mark, 
        placard, or other clear and visible sign on the peanuts or 
        peanut products or on the package, display, holding unit, or 
        bin containing the peanuts or peanut products at the final 
        point of sale to consumers.
            (2) Existing labeling.--If the peanuts or peanut products 
        are already labeled regarding country of origin by the packer, 
        importer, or another person, the retailer shall not be required 
        to provide any additional information in order to comply with 
        this section.
    (d) Violations.--If a retailer fails to indicate the country of 
origin of peanuts or peanut products as required by subsection (b), the 
Secretary may impose a civil penalty on the retailer in an amount not 
to exceed--
            (1) $1,000 for the first day on which the violation occurs; 
        and
            (2) $250 for each day on which the violation continues.
    (e) Deposit of Funds.--Amounts collected under subsection (d) shall 
be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous 
receipts.
    (f) Application.--This section shall apply with respect to peanuts 
and peanut products produced in, or imported into, the United States 
after the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act.
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