Sponsors (13)
The bill increases transparency about beef origin and may boost demand for U.S. producers, but it imposes severe penalties on suppliers and risks international trade retaliation that could raise prices for consumers.
Consumers nationwide gain clearer labeling on the country of origin for beef and ground beef, letting shoppers more easily choose domestic versus foreign-sourced products.
U.S. beef producers—particularly small and domestic operations—could see stronger demand and sales if labeling steers buyers toward U.S.-origin beef.
Beef suppliers, processors, and retailers face steep penalties—$5,000 per noncompliant pound—creating very high financial risk, especially for small businesses and local processors.
The provision refusing to accept WTO or other international rulings raises the risk of trade disputes or retaliation, which could raise beef prices and harm consumers and taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds beef (including ground beef and veal) to federal COOL, sets civil penalties for noncompliant beef at $5,000 per pound, and preserves USDA labeling authority despite international rulings.
Introduced October 24, 2025 by Harriet Hageman · Last progress October 24, 2025
Adds beef (including ground beef and veal) to the federal country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules, creates a new definition of “beef,” and raises civil penalties for noncompliant beef to $5,000 per pound. It also preserves the USDA’s authority to require COOL even if international organizations (such as the WTO) issue contrary rulings. The bill changes existing COOL text to explicitly cover beef and ground beef, increases enforcement penalties targeted at beef, and clarifies that international trade rulings cannot be used to limit USDA’s labeling authority as amended.