Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act of 2025

Summary

Adds beef (including veal) to the federal country-of-origin labeling rules, explicitly covers ground beef, and raises the civil penalty for labeling violations involving beef to $5,000 per noncompliant pound. The bill also clarifies that international trade rulings (such as WTO decisions) cannot be read to limit the Secretary of Agriculture’s authority to require the revised labeling. These changes create new definitional and enforcement language in existing country-of-origin labeling law, increase potential fines for noncompliance by a large per‑pound amount for beef, and shift compliance and legal risk onto producers, processors, importers, and retailers handling beef products.

• Beef (including veal) is added to the federal country-of-origin labeling statute as a covered commodity.
• Ground beef is explicitly included in the list of covered products subject to labeling rules.
• A new statutory definition of "beef" is inserted into the existing law.
• Civil penalties for labeling violations involving beef are set at $5,000 per noncompliant pound.
• Notice-of-origin and related labeling text is revised to incorporate beef alongside other meats.
• The bill clarifies that WTO or other international rulings may not be interpreted to limit the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to require the labeling changes.
• No effective date or new funding is specified in the provided amendments; the measure focuses on definitions and enforcement.