USDA Requests Comments on Beef Grade Standards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking input from the public and industry stakeholders on how the U.S. beef grade standards could be updated to better serve the needs of beef producers, packers, wholesalers, volume food buyers, retailers, and consumers. AMS was asked by the American Wagyu Association to review the grade standards and explore potential revisions.

On July 8, 2026, AMS published a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register seeking comments on the beef grade standards with a 60-day comment period that ends on September 8, 2026.  AMS received an industry request to extend the comment period by an additional 90 days. AMS is honoring this request, so comments can now be submitted through December 7, 2026. The Beef Standards Notice Comment Extension is available here: Federal Register - United States Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef (Extension of Comment Period)