[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 251 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 251

To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require that imported beef 
        or lamb bear a label identifying the country of origin.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 19, 1999

Mr. Burns (for himself, Mr. Craig, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Enzi) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
                on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require that imported beef 
        or lamb bear a label identifying the country of origin.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. LABELING OF IMPORTED MEAT AND MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 1 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 601) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(w) Beef.--The term `beef'' means meat produced from 
        cattle (including veal).
            ``(x) Lamb.--The term `lamb' means meat, other than mutton, 
        produced from sheep.
            ``(y) Imported beef.--The term `imported beef' means any 
        beef, including any fresh muscle cuts, ground meat, trimmings, 
        and beef in another meat food product, that is not United 
        States beef, whether or not the beef is graded with a quality 
        grade issued by the Secretary.
            ``(z) Imported lamb.--The term `imported lamb' means any 
        lamb, including any fresh muscle cuts, ground meat, trimmings, 
        and lamb in another meat food product, that is not United 
        States lamb, whether or not the lamb is graded with a quality 
        grade issued by the Secretary.
            ``(aa) United states beef.--
                    ``(1) In general.--The term `United States beef' 
                means beef produced from cattle slaughtered in the 
                United States.
                    ``(2) Exclusions.--The term `United States beef' 
                does not include--
                            ``(A) beef produced from cattle imported 
                        into the United States in sealed trucks for 
                        slaughter;
                            ``(B) beef produced from imported 
                        carcasses;
                            ``(C) imported beef trimmings; or
                            ``(D) imported boxed beef.
            ``(bb) United states lamb.--
                    ``(1) In general.--The term `United States lamb' 
                means lamb, except mutton, produced from sheep 
                slaughtered in the United States.
                    ``(2) Exclusions.--The term `United States lamb' 
                does not include--
                            ``(A) lamb produced from sheep imported 
                        into the United States in sealed trucks for 
                        slaughter;
                            ``(B) lamb produced from an imported 
                        carcass;
                            ``(C) imported lamb trimmings; or
                            ``(D) imported boxed lamb.''.
    (b) Labeling.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1(n) of the Federal Meat 
        Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601(n)) is amended by adding at the 
        end the following:
            ``(13)(A) If it is imported beef or imported lamb offered 
        for retail sale as fresh muscle cuts of beef or lamb and is not 
        accompanied by labeling that identifies the country of origin.
            ``(B) If it is ground beef made from imported beef and is 
        not accompanied by labeling that identifies it as blended with 
        imported beef or other designation that identifies the 
        percentage content of imported beef contained in the product, 
        as determined by the Secretary.''.
            (2) Voluntary labeling of domestic ground beef.--Section 7 
        of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 607) is amended 
        by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Voluntary Labeling of Domestic Ground Beef.--The Secretary 
may authorize persons, firms, and corporations to affix to a container 
of ground beef that is made entirely from domestic beef a label that 
indicates that the ground beef is made entirely from domestic beef.''.
            (3) Conforming amendment.--Section 20(a) of the Federal 
        Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 620(a)) is amended by adding at 
        the end the following: ``All imported beef or imported lamb 
        offered for retail sale as fresh muscle cuts of beef or lamb 
        shall be plainly and conspicuously marked, labeled, or 
        otherwise identified to indicate its country of origin.''.
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