Providing for a country of origin label for certain products, allowing for injunctive relief, and making penalties applicable

BACKGROUND —— FEDERAL LAW. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114-113), the United States Congress enacted legislation that removed mandatory labeling requirements for beef and pork meat products that had been administered and enforced under regulations adopted by the United States department of agriculture (USDA) and published in the Federal Register in 2009. BACKGROUND —— IOWA LAW. Title V, subtitle 4, of the Code provides for the regulation of agriculture-related products and activities by the department of agriculture and land stewardship (DALS). 9).21 provides that any person violating a provision of Code Title V, subtitle 4, or any rule adopted by DALS pursuant to that provision is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855.10 provides that DALS may restrain a person violating a provision in Code chapter 191 or a rule adopted by DALS under that Code chapter, by petitioning a district court for injunctive relief. BILL’S PROVISION. This bill enacts a provision in Code chapter 191 that requires DALS to adopt rules to establish a country of origin labeling state program for beef and pork meat products sold in this state on a retail basis (state program). The rules may be based on the superseded USDA regulations. The bill prohibits DALS from adopting such rules unless it first obtains any necessary waiver by the USDA based on an authorizing congressional statute. If DALS determines that it requires state legislation to further implement the state program, it is required to prepare such legislation for consideration by the 92nd General Assembly during its first session. DALS must submit a report to the general assembly not later than January 1, 2027, detailing its progress in implementing the bill’s provisions.