HR 5818
Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act of 2025
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Bill overview
This bill strengthens the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements for beef. It specifically prohibits retailers from labeling beef as originating in the United States if it was not entirely produced there, including born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S. The bill increases the USDA fine for violations of COOL requirements for beef from $1,000 to $5,000 per pound of non-compliant product, and clarifies that this applies to ground beef as well. The bill also includes a provision to ensure USDA’s authority to implement COOL is not limited by international rulings.
Key provisions
- Expands COOL requirements to include beef, specifically ground beef.
- Defines ‘beef’ to include meat from cattle (including veal).
- Requires beef to be entirely produced in the United States to be labeled as ‘United States origin’.
- Increases the USDA fine for COOL violations for beef to $5,000 per pound.
- Applies COOL requirements to ground beef.
- Includes a rule of construction to protect USDA’s authority over COOL labeling.
Who is affected
- Retailers (grocery stores, supermarkets, club warehouses)
- Beef producers
- Consumers
Notable changes
- Increases the USDA fine for COOL violations from $1,000 to $5,000 per pound of non-compliant beef.
- Specifically requires beef to be entirely produced in the United States to be labeled as ‘United States origin’.
Fiscal impact
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large] Hageman
Cosponsors
Marjorie Taylor Greene
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5818
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to prohibit retailers from designating the United States as the country of origin of foreign beef, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act of 2025
.
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as paragraphs (2) through (8), respectively;
by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:
in paragraph (2)(A)(i) (as so redesignated), by striking lamb and venison
and inserting beef, lamb, and venison
; and
in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) (as so redesignated), by striking ground lamb and ground venison
and inserting ground beef, ground lamb, and ground venison
.
Section 282(a)(2) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638a(a)(2)) is amended—
in the paragraph heading, by inserting beef,
after for
;
in each of subparagraphs (A) through (D), by inserting beef,
before lamb
each place it appears; and
in subparagraph (E)—
in the subparagraph heading, by inserting beef,
after Ground
; and
by inserting ground beef,
before ground lamb
each place it appears.
$1,000 for each violationand inserting
$1,000 for each violation (or in the case of a covered commodity that is beef, $5,000 for each pound of beef not in compliance with the requirements of section 282).
No ruling by the World Trade Organization or by any other international organization of which the United States is a member that is established before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act may be construed to limit, alter, or affect the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to require country of origin labeling in accordance with the amendments made by this section.