7 U.S.C. § 1638a
Except as provided in subsection (b), a retailer of a covered commodity shall inform consumers, at the final point of sale of the covered commodity to consumers, of the country of origin of the covered commodity.
A retailer of a covered commodity that is lamb, chicken, goat, or venison meat may designate the covered commodity as exclusively having a United States country of origin only if the covered commodity is derived from an animal that was-
A retailer of a covered commodity that is lamb, chicken, goat, or venison meat that is derived from an animal that is-
may designate the country of origin of such covered commodity as all of the countries in which the animal may have been born, raised, or slaughtered.
Nothing in this subparagraph alters the mandatory requirement to inform consumers of the country of origin of covered commodities under paragraph (1).
A retailer of a covered commodity that is lamb, chicken, goat, or venison meat that is derived from an animal that is imported into the United States for immediate slaughter shall designate the origin of such covered commodity as-
A retailer of a covered commodity that is lamb, chicken, goat, or venison meat that is derived from an animal that is not born, raised, or slaughtered in the United States shall designate a country other than the United States as the country of origin of such commodity.
The notice of country of origin for ground lamb, ground chicken, ground goat, or ground venison shall include-
A retailer of a covered commodity that is farm-raised fish or wild fish may designate the covered commodity as having a United States country of origin only if the covered commodity-
The notice of country of origin for wild fish and farm-raised fish shall distinguish between wild fish and farm-raised fish.
A retailer of a covered commodity that is a perishable agricultural commodity, ginseng, peanut, pecan, or macadamia nut may designate the covered commodity as having a United States country of origin only if the covered commodity is exclusively produced in the United States.
With respect to a covered commodity that is a perishable agricultural commodity, ginseng, peanut, pecan, or macadamia nut produced exclusively in the United States, designation by a retailer of the State, region, or locality of the United States where such commodity was produced shall be sufficient to identify the United States as the country of origin.
Subsection (a) shall not apply to a covered commodity if the covered commodity is-
The information required by subsection (a) may be provided to consumers by means of a label, stamp, mark, placard, or other clear and visible sign on the covered commodity or on the package, display, holding unit, or bin containing the commodity at the final point of sale to consumers.
If the covered commodity is already individually labeled for retail sale regarding country of origin, the retailer shall not be required to provide any additional information to comply with this section.
The Secretary may conduct an audit of any person that prepares, stores, handles, or distributes a covered commodity for retail sale to verify compliance with this subchapter (including the regulations promulgated under section 1638c(b) of this title).
A person subject to an audit under paragraph (1) shall provide the Secretary with verification of the country of origin of covered commodities. Records maintained in the course of the normal conduct of the business of such person, including animal health papers, import or customs documents, or producer affidavits, may serve as such verification.
The Secretary may not require a person that prepares, stores, handles, or distributes a covered commodity to maintain a record of the country of origin of a covered commodity other than those maintained in the course of the normal conduct of the business of such person.
Any person engaged in the business of supplying a covered commodity to a retailer shall provide information to the retailer indicating the country of origin of the covered commodity.
The Secretary shall not use a mandatory identification system to verify the country of origin of a covered commodity.
To certify the country of origin of a covered commodity, the Secretary may use as a model certification programs in existence on May 13, 2002, including-
7 U.S.C. § 1638a
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThis Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(2)(A), is act Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, 60 Stat. 1082, which enacted this chapter and sections 427h, 427j, and 3105 of this title and amended section 3104 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
CODIFICATIONMay 13, 2002, referred to in subsec. (f)(2), was in the original "the date of enactment of this Act", which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 107-171 which enacted this subchapter, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Pub. L. 110-234 and Pub. L. 110-246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110-234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110-246.
AMENDMENTS2018-Subsec. (f)(2)(C). Pub. L. 115-334 substituted "section 5623(b)" for "section 5623".2015-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 114-113, §759(b)(1)(A), in heading, struck out "beef," before "lamb," and "pork," before "chicken,".Subsec. (a)(2)(A) to (D). Pub. L. 114-113, §759(b)(1)(B), struck out "beef," and "pork," wherever appearing. Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 114-113, §759(b)(1)(C), in heading, struck out "beef, pork," after "Ground" and, in text, struck out "ground beef, ground pork," wherever appearing. Subsec. (f)(2)(B) to (E). Pub. L. 114-113, §759(b)(2), redesignated subpars. (D) and (E) as (B) and (C), respectively, and struck out former subpars. (B) and (C), which read as follows:"(B) the voluntary country of origin beef labeling system carried out under this Act;"(C) voluntary programs established to certify certain premium beef cuts;". 2014-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 113-79, §12104(b)(2)(A), substituted "goat, and venison" for "and goat" in heading. Subsec. (a)(2)(A), (B)(i), (C), (D). Pub. L. 113-79, §12104(b)(2)(B), substituted "goat, or venison" for "or goat".Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 113-79, §12104(b)(2)(C), substituted "goat, and venison" for "and goat" in heading and "ground goat, or ground venison" for "or ground goat" wherever appearing in text.2008-Subsec. (a)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 110-246, §11002(2)(A), added pars. (2) to (4) and struck out former pars. (2) and (3) which related to designation of United States as country of origin for beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts, and requirement that notice of country of origin for fish shall distinguish between wild and farm-raised fish. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110-246, §11002(2)(B), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Secretary may require that any person that prepares, stores, handles, or distributes a covered commodity for retail sale maintain a verifiable recordkeeping audit trail that will permit the Secretary to verify compliance with this subchapter (including the regulations promulgated under section 1638c(b) of this title)." 2002-Subsec. (a)(2)(D). Pub. L. 107-206 amended subpar. (D) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (D) read as follows: "in the case of wild fish, is- "(i) harvested in waters of the United States, a territory of the United States, or a State; and "(ii) processed in the United States, a territory of the United States, or a State, including the waters thereof; and".
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2008 AMENDMENT Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110-234 by Pub. L. 110-246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110-234 see section 4 of Pub. L. 110-246 set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.