Bill > HR848

This bill establishes a voluntary food climate labeling program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would require food producers to display a standardized label quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a food product's entire lifecycle. The program mandates two numerical summaries showing emissions from production stages like ingredient growing, manufacturing, processing, packaging, distribution, storage, retail presentation, consumer use, and end-of-life disposal. Participants must apply for authorization to use the label, which will include a QR code providing additional sustainability information. The EPA will develop the label's visual design in consultation with food industry stakeholders, ensuring it provides consumers with useful information at the point of sale without judging a food's environmental acceptability. The bill requires the EPA to create a public database with label information, establish verification standards using international carbon accounting protocols, and develop a technical assistance advisory board to help entities participate. Participants can voluntarily commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, and the EPA will report on the program's effectiveness every five years. The bill includes penalties up to $10,000 for fraudulent label use and defines key terms like "greenhouse gas" to include various chemical compounds that contribute to climate change. Ultimately, the goal is to provide transparent, standardized information to help consumers make environmentally informed food purchasing decisions.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/848/all-info