MCOOL for beef advances with Senate Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2026 — Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advanced out of committee the Agricultural Act of 2026 with a bipartisan provision to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef.
The committee’s action marks another major step forward for MCOOL. During the committee’s August Farm Bill markup, the provision was adopted on a 17-6 bipartisan vote, marking the first time the Senate had acted to advance MCOOL for beef since the 2008 Farm Bill and the first significant congressional action to restore the law since its repeal in 2015.
Led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., the provision would restore consumers’ ability to clearly distinguish American beef from foreign beef at the grocery store while allowing American cattle producers to differentiate their product in the marketplace.
“We commend the Senate Agriculture Committee for its recognition that American cattle ranchers deserve the opportunity to compete for consumers who want American beef and that all American consumers deserve to know where their beef comes from,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. “We also recognize our thousands of cattle producer members who have stood behind this effort for years and never wavered in their commitment to restoring MCOOL.
“The Senate has demonstrated bipartisan support, the president has demonstrated his support, and American ranchers and consumers have made their voices clear. We must remain vigilant to ensure MCOOL remains in the Farm Bill through the next steps of this process and is ultimately restored into law.”
R-CALF USA has remained one of the nation’s leading advocates for restoring MCOOL for beef, working through multiple Congresses and administrations to advance legislation, build producer and consumer support, engage policymakers and keep the issue at the forefront of the national cattle policy debate.
Momentum behind MCOOL has accelerated in recent weeks. On Sept. 4, President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the U.S. Trade Representative, to review available authorities and determine a path forward for mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, including potential regulatory action or legislative recommendations.
With today’s committee action, the Farm Bill now moves forward as congressional leaders work toward passage of a final package.
-RCALF
