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Joint conference committee adopts amendment to limit "Product of" labels to Wyoming- and U.S.-born beef
Summary
A joint conference committee approved an amendment that would restrict "Product of the United States" labels to beef born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States and reserve "Product of Wyoming" for beef born and raised in Wyoming; the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
A joint conference committee adopted an amendment that would narrow which beef may be labeled "Product of the United States" and which may be labeled "Product of Wyoming." The amendment, read into the record by a committee speaker representing the Wyoming stock grower interest, says the provisions would take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
The amendment, which a committee member described as acceptable with recent changes, states in full: "Only beef that is derived from cattle born, raised and slaughtered and processed in The United States may clearly be labeled as a product of The United States Of America. Only beef that is derived from cattle born and raised in Wyoming may be clearly labeled as a product of Wyoming. Beef that is of undeterminable origin or that has not been born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in The United States Of America shall not be labeled as a product of The United States Of America. The act would be effective 01/01/2026." The text was read into the record for clarity, the speaker said.
The committee discussion was brief. "With these amendments, we're very pleased with the bill," said Mr. Magagna. The committee proceeded to a voice vote; the chair called for ayes and noes and the amendment was adopted. Committee members then signed the amendment to move it to the next stage, and the meeting was adjourned.
The amendment would change labeling rules to require evidence that cattle were born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States before products may carry a U.S.-origin label, and would reserve Wyoming-origin labeling to beef born and raised in Wyoming. The transcript does not specify administrative enforcement mechanisms, certification steps, penalties, or which state or federal agency would oversee compliance. The transcript also does not specify whether the text as adopted here is the full statutory language or whether additional technical edits will be made before the bill reaches the floor.
No roll-call vote was taken; the committee used a voice vote and did not provide a numeric tally in the record. Public comment was closed before the amendment reading and no members of the public are named in the discussion in the available transcript.
