109 HR 4689 IH: Truth in Quality Grading Act of 2005 U.S. House of Representatives 2006-02-01 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4689 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 1, 2006 Ms. Herseth (for herself, Mrs. Cubin, and Ms. Kaptur) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to provide that a quality grade label issued by the Secretary of Agriculture for beef and lamb may not be used for imported beef or imported lamb.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Truth in Quality Grading Act of 2005.

2.

Quality grade labeling of beef and lamb

(a)

Definitions

Section 1 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601) is amended by adding at the end the following: (x)

Beef

The term beef means meat produced from cattle (including veal). (y)

Imported beef

The term imported beef means beef 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 lamb that is not United States lamb, whether or not the lamb is graded with a quality grade issued by the Secretary. (aa)

Lamb

The term lamb means meat, other than mutton, produced from sheep. (bb)

United States beef

(1)

In general

The term United States beef means beef produced from cattle slaughtered in the United States. (2)

Exclusion

The term United States beef does not include beef produced from cattle imported into the United States. (cc)

United States lamb

(1)

In general

The term United States lamb means lamb produced from sheep slaughtered in the United States. (2)

Exclusion

The term United States lamb does not include lamb produced from sheep imported into the United States.. (b)

Misbranding

Section 1(n) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601(n)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (11), by striking or at the end; (2)in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (13)if it is imported beef or imported lamb and bears a label that indicates a quality grade issued by the Secretary.. (c)

Regulations

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate final regulations to carry out the amendments made by this section. (d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section take effect 60 days after the date on which final regulations are promulgated under subsection (c).