Section 6

Foreign Imports

While this bill will reform American farming, here in the United States, farms abroad should be held to the same standard too, if they want to export here. This section was written in response to the hundreds of farms who have been investigated abroad for neglecting animals, destroying air quality, and creating massive water pollution in many natural water systems, thus poisoning their communities.(sources 25-30).

  These farms are regulated even less than the farms in the United States, meaning not at all. The incompetence of the EPA, USDA, and the federal government (31) is mentioned extensively in section 10. This fact is important because if you see what is going on, you can only imagine what is happening in less developed countries. If we can’t regulate ourselves to form a healthier country, how would it be possible to ensure our imports are truly safe and from humane operations?  

   Could it be possible cartels are paying off inspectors in Mexico? What about inspectors in Canada? We can’t ever know those questions, but we can pass this, section 6, to promote healthier farm products coming into our country at about $213 billion a year (32) This section is important because with the regulations of this bill, farmers may move out of the U.S. to abuse animals, for larger profits. It’s also important because it incentivizes factory farms abroad to stop intensive confinement and animal cruelty practices.

   This section of the bill in no way can prevent unhealthy food from getting shipped into our country, but it does create consequences for factory farms abroad who are found to abuse animals or transport poisonous food into our country. As mentioned, prices may increase but, conversely, colds, flu, sickness, fatigue, disease, medical bills and doctor visits will go down.  Also, by holding CAFO’s to a higher standard we drastically minimize the risk of another outbreak/pandemic (2).  Americans deserve the healthiest food that we can possibly give them, and that cannot happen when imports are coming from suffering and diseased animals.

 Section 6 Legislation

 6.1 All meat, dairy, eggs, or any other food that is a byproduct of a farm animal that is imported into the U.S shall be labelled as “imported from abroad”. The sticker/label will be required to be placed on the front of each item before they reach the retail shelf. This is only required of meat, dairy, eggs, and all farm products from animals.

6.2 Stores and supply chains that are found to remove the label intentionally, or neglecting to put it on, shall be subject to a fine.

6.3 If farms/entities abroad that import to the U.S. are found to not adhere to the standards of this bill or MOS laws, they permanently forfeit their right to export into the U.S. This can be through independent investigation, video evidence, or on behalf of the FDA, USDA, CDC, EPA, WHO, or any animal rights organizations.

6.4 Foreign factory farms abroad who have made food shipments to the United States containing carcinogenic or cancer-causing antibiotics shall have their shipping permit terminated.