Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB217

Introduced
1/9/23  
Refer
1/9/23  

Caption

Country of Origin Labeling Requirement Act This bill requires retail sellers of products online to conspicuously disclose the country of origin of the products. This requirement does not apply to individuals selling products through third-party websites or mobile applications. The Federal Trade Commission must enforce violations of this requirement as unfair or deceptive trade practices.

Impact

The bill requires retailers operating online platforms to provide conspicuous information about where products are manufactured or assembled, thereby creating a baseline for transparency in e-commerce. This legislation could have a considerable impact on the state of consumer retail laws, as it aligns with existing requirements for physical stores, thereby bridging the gap between online and offline retail practices. Moreover, it highlights the federal government's dedication to fostering informed consumer choices in an increasingly rapid digital economy.

Summary

House Bill 217, titled the 'Country of Origin Labeling Requirement Act,' mandates that online retailers disclose the country of origin for each product they sell on their websites or mobile applications. This provision aims to enhance consumer awareness and enable shoppers to make informed decisions regarding the products they purchase. By instituting clear guidelines on labeling, the bill intends to protect consumers from misrepresentation about the origin of goods, thereby promoting fair trade practices in the digital marketplace.

Contention

While proponents of HB 217 argue that increased transparency will assist consumers in making better purchasing decisions, there may be concerns regarding the compliance burdens placed on smaller retailers who may struggle to track and disclose this information accurately. Opponents may also voice objections regarding the scope of enforcement, as defining what constitutes 'conspicuous' disclosure could lead to ambiguities in compliance. Furthermore, the bill explicitly states that it does not apply to individuals selling products through third-party applications, which could raise questions about equity in regulatory frameworks across different types of sellers.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US SB294

Country of Origin Labeling Requirement Act or the COOL Online Act This bill requires sellers of imported products online to conspicuously disclose the country of origin of the products and the country where the seller's principal place of business is located. This requirement does not apply to specified products, such as agricultural commodities, food or drugs, or previously owned items.The Federal Trade Commission must enforce violations of this requirement as unfair or deceptive trade practices.

US SB52

American Beef Labeling Act of 2023 This bill reinstates mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef. Specifically, the bill requires the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to develop a means of reinstating the requirements that complies with the rules of the World Trade Organization. The USTR and the Department of Agriculture must implement the means within one year.

US HB5081

Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act of 2023

US SB1421

COOL Online Act Country Of Origin Labeling Online Act

US HB389

Preventing Opportunistic Returns on Trades and Futures by Officials, Leadership, and Individuals in Office Act or the PORTFOLIO Act This bill generally prohibits federal employees and officials from owning or trading in synthetic assets (i.e., tokenized derivatives). It also establishes financial disclosure requirements with respect to cryptocurrency. Specifically, the bill prohibits federal employees, Members of Congress, the President, and Vice President from owning or trading investments in a security, a commodity, a future, cryptocurrency, or any comparable economic interest acquired through synthetic means, such as through a derivative. Such investments must be divested through gift or donation, cashing out, or a qualified blind trust. The appropriate ethics office may grant temporary exemptions in certain situations, such as for preexisting complex financial arrangements from which investments cannot be withdrawn, and may assess fees for violations. The Department of Justice may also bring civil actions for violations. The bill also (1) incorporates cryptocurrency and other digital assets into current financial disclosure requirements; (2) modifies the categories and timelines for financial disclosures; and (3) requires agencies, ethics offices, and the Department of Justice to regularly report on violations of this bill and other related requirements.

US HB5462

To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to require that the slaughter date, package date, freeze date, and country of origin be labeled on meat and poultry products.

US HB190

Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act This bill modifies requirements for third party settlement organizations to eliminate their reporting requirement with respect to the transactions of their participating payees unless they have earned more than $20,000 on more than 200 separate transactions in an applicable tax period. A third party settlement organization is the central organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (generally, a merchant or business) in a third party payment network. This reverses a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that lowered the reporting threshold to $600 with no minimum on the number of transactions.

US HB488

Stop the Nosy Obsession with Online Payments Act of 2023 or the SNOOP Act of 2023 This bill modifies requirements for third party settlement organizations to eliminate their reporting requirement with respect to the transactions of their participating payees unless they have earned more than $20,000 on more than 200 separate transactions in an applicable tax period. A third party settlement organization is the central organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (generally, a merchant or business) in a third party payment network. This reverses a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that lowered the reporting threshold to $600 with no minimum on the number of transactions.

US HB261

Article I Regulatory Budget Act This bill requires the establishment of a federal regulatory budget to limit the costs of federal regulations. It also establishes requirements for disclosing the projected costs of federal regulations and procedures for enforcing the regulatory budget.

US HB170

Domestic Security Using Production Partnerships and Lessons from Yesterday Act of 2023 or the Domestic SUPPLY Act of 2023 This bill establishes a program and sets out other requirements to promote domestic manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) for infectious diseases and other public health emergencies. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a program to enter into purchasing agreements for PPE produced domestically by manufacturers that are majority-owned and -operated by U.S. citizens. HHS must coordinate with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security on this program. In addition, the federal government must only procure, subject to limited exceptions, PPE that is produced domestically to prevent the transmission of an infectious disease. If using federal funds, states or localities must also procure PPE domestically. Further, the bill requires HHS to consult with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on a report about changes to federal requirements for PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of those changes on health care workers who cared for patients in 2020 and 2021.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.