Federal

A bill to require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by beef imported from Brazil, and for other purposes.

Source: Congress.gov · 439 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to create a working group that will study whether beef imported from Brazil poses safety and health risks to the United States. The working group will make recommendations about whether the U.S. should allow Brazilian beef imports to continue.

Who It Affects

The Secretary of Agriculture, food safety experts, animal health experts, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, other federal agencies involved in international trade, and beef importers from Brazil.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of Agriculture must establish a working group within 120 days of the bill becoming law to evaluate threats from Brazilian beef imports to food safety and animal health in the United States (Sec. 1(a)(1)(A)). • The working group must make recommendations to the Secretary about whether the U.S. should allow beef and beef products from Brazil to be imported (Sec. 1(a)(1)(B)). • The working group must include food safety experts, animal health experts, and representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies responsible for international trade (Sec. 1(a)(2)). • Brazilian beef and beef products cannot enter the United States starting immediately and continuing until the working group submits its recommendations to the Secretary (Sec. 1(b)).

What Changes

Brazilian beef imports will be temporarily halted when the bill becomes law. Beef from Brazil cannot enter the U.S. until the working group completes its evaluation and makes its recommendations to the Secretary.

Important Definitions

None defined.

Effective Date

Immediately upon enactment of the bill.

II 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 480 To require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by beef imported from Brazil, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 16, 2023 Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. ROUNDS, and Mr. LUJA´N) introduced the fol- lowing bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agri- culture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by beef imported from Brazil, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. WORKING GROUP ON BEEF IMPORTED FROM 3 BRAZIL. 4 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF WORKING GROUP.— 5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days 6 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec- 7 retary of Agriculture shall establish a working 8 group— 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:22 Mar 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S480.IS S480 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 480 IS (A) to evaluate the threat posed by beef 1 and beef products imported from Brazil to food 2 safety and animal health in the United States; 3 and 4 (B) to make recommendations to the Sec- 5 retary with respect to whether the importation 6 of beef and beef products from Brazil into the 7 United States should be permitted. 8 (2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Secretary shall ensure 9 that the working group established under paragraph 10 (1) includes— 11 (A) experts on food safety; 12 (B) experts on animal health; and 13 (C) representatives of U.S. Customs and 14 Border Protection and other Federal agencies 15 with responsibilities relating to international 16 trade. 17 (b) TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF IMPORTS.—Beef 18 and beef products imported from Brazil may not enter the 19 United States during the period— 20 (1) beginning on the date of the enactment of 21 this Act; and 22 (2) ending on the date on which the working 23 group established under subsection (a)(1) submits to 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:22 Mar 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S480.IS S480 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •S 480 IS the Secretary the recommendations required by sub- 1 paragraph (B) of that subsection. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:22 Mar 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S480.IS S480 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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