S. 1230 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Apr 1, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySecures U.S. food names in foreign markets
This bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative to work together to protect American food and drink producers' right to use common names—like basmati, parmesan, bratwurst, and pale ale—when selling their products abroad. They'll do this by negotiating trade agreements and other deals with other countries. The two agencies must also report to Congress twice a year on how these efforts are going.
How it affects you
If you work in agriculture, food processing, or beverage production and export products internationally, this affects you directly. The bill aims to make it easier for U.S. companies to sell their products overseas without restrictions on what they can call them. For most everyday consumers, the main effect would be indirect—these protections could help keep American food and beverage exports competitive in foreign markets.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Apr 1, 2025)
Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields Act of 2025 or the SAFETY Act of 2025
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to secure foreign markets for goods using common names.
In general, the bill defines common name as a name that (1) is ordinarily or customarily used for an agricultural commodity or food product, (2) is typically placed on the packaging and product label of the agricultural commodity or food product, and (3) the use of which is consistent with standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The bill includes a list of names that will be considered common names for (1) food products (e.g., basmati, bratwurst, and parmesan); (2) wine, including grape varietal terms, grape variety designations, and non-varietal descriptors such as chateau and vintage; and (3) beer (e.g., bitter, pale ale, and hefeweizen).
Specifically, USDA must coordinate efforts with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to secure the right of U.S. agricultural producers, processors, and exporters to use common names for agricultural commodities or food products in foreign markets. Through the negotiation of bilateral, plurilateral, or multilateral agreements, memoranda of understanding, or exchanges of letters, USDA and the USTR must assure the current and future use of each common name in connection with U.S. agricultural commodities or food products.
USDA and the USTR must jointly brief Congress on these efforts on a semi-annual basis.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1230
A BILL
SAFETY Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. John Thune (R-SD) · Introduced Apr 1, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 1, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S2095)”