U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, and Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, recently reintroduced the American Beef Labeling Act, legislation that would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef.
The legislation would require the U.S. Trade Representative, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to develop a World Trade Organization-compliant means of reinstating MCOOL for beef within one year of enactment. USTR would have six months to develop a reinstatement plan followed by a six-month window to implement it. If USTR fails to reinstate MCOOL for beef within one year of enactment, it would automatically be reinstated for beef only.
“The United States Cattlemen’s Association commends Majority Leader Thune for introducing the American Beef Labeling Act,” USCA President Justin Tupper said. “His leadership in restoring truth to labeling is a critical step toward ensuring transparency for U.S. consumers in the marketplace. This legislation puts U.S. producers first, and we look forward to collaborating with Senator Thune and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to uphold integrity in the domestic beef market.”
U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, and John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, are cosponsors of the American Beef Labeling Act.
