Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and Trade Enhancement Act of 2015”.
Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and Trade Enhancement Act of 2015
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to provide for voluntary country of origin labeling for beef, pork, and chicken.
Sec. 2 Country of origin labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken
by striking paragraphs (1) and (7);
by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (8), and (9) as paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and
in paragraph (1)(A) (as redesignated by paragraph (2))—
by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:
“(i) muscle cuts of lamb and venison;”
by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:
“(ii) ground lamb and ground venison;”
in clause (vi), by striking “and” at the end;
by striking clause (viii); and
by redesignating clauses (ix), (x), and (xi) as clauses (viii), (ix), and (x), respectively.
Notice of country of origin— Section 282 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638a) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (1), by striking “subsection (b)” and inserting “subsections (b) and (c)”; and
in paragraph (2)—
in the paragraph heading, by striking “beef, lamb, pork, chicken,” and inserting “lamb,”;
in subparagraphs (A) through (D), by striking “beef, lamb, pork, chicken,” each place it appears and inserting “lamb,”; and
in subparagraph (E)—
in the subparagraph heading, by striking “Ground beef, pork, lamb, chicken,” and inserting “Ground lamb,”; and
by striking “ground beef, ground pork, ground lamb, ground chicken,” each place it appears and inserting “ground lamb,”;
by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as subsections (d) through (g), respectively;
by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
“(c) Voluntary designation of country of origin for beef, pork, and chicken
“(1) Definition of packer—In this subsection, the term packer has the meaning given the term in section 201 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 191).
“(2) Voluntary designation—As determined by the Secretary, a packer of beef, pork, or chicken may voluntarily designate any raw single-ingredient beef, pork, or chicken intended for retail sale as exclusively having a United States country of origin only if the beef, pork, or chicken meets the requirements of clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subsection (a)(2)(A).
“(3) Enforcement—The Secretary shall ensure compliance with paragraph (2) in the same manner as the Secretary ensures compliance with subsection (a)(2)(A).
“(4) Savings clause
“(A) In general—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), nothing in this paragraph affects any other Federal marketing or regulatory program or similar State initiative.
“(B) United States country of origin—No Federal agency, State, or political establishment of a State may establish or enforce a statute or administrative action that provides for the labeling of any beef, pork, or chicken intended for retail sale as exclusively having a United States country of origin in a manner that is less stringent than, or otherwise inconsistent with, the requirements of paragraph (2) and subsection (a)(2)(A).”
in paragraph (2) of subsection (g) (as redesignated by paragraph (2))—
by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C); and
by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively.