March 12, 2007
House Ag chairman talks about mandatory COOL, NAIS
When it comes to two hot topics for the livestock industry, country of origin labeling (COOL) and an animal ID system, it’s worth listening to the chairman of the House Ag Committee, Rep. Colin Peterson (D-Minn.). Here’s what he had to say last week at a meeting of the National Farmers Union.
On COOL: Peterson said he wants mandatory COOL implemented by September 2008, and not this September. The reason he favors a delay: he considers the implementing regulations written by USDA to be unworkable, and wants them re-written.
He also said he’s warned the American Meat Institute, and other opponents that mandatory COOL “will happen no later” than September of 2008. And, he said, if they try to repeal the law, there will be a floor vote and the law “will pass by 300 votes.”
On animal ID: Mandatory COOL will lead to a system of mandatory ID for meat animals, Peterson said. He noted that producer reaction to the announcement of a mandatory ID program led USDA to back off and say the program would be voluntary. But he noted that other developed countries have mandatory ID, and “In the end these (two systems) are going to get married.”
This speech came as the Food Marketing Institute released a report claiming that mandatory COOL for seafood has not delivered the benefits promised by the law, and has cost retailers and suppliers much more than USDA estimated.
House Ag chairman talks about mandatory COOL, NAIS
When it comes to two hot topics for the livestock industry, country of origin labeling (COOL) and an animal ID system, it’s worth listening to the chairman of the House Ag Committee, Rep. Colin Peterson (D-Minn.). Here’s what he had to say last week at a meeting of the National Farmers Union.
On COOL: Peterson said he wants mandatory COOL implemented by September 2008, and not this September. The reason he favors a delay: he considers the implementing regulations written by USDA to be unworkable, and wants them re-written.
He also said he’s warned the American Meat Institute, and other opponents that mandatory COOL “will happen no later” than September of 2008. And, he said, if they try to repeal the law, there will be a floor vote and the law “will pass by 300 votes.”
On animal ID: Mandatory COOL will lead to a system of mandatory ID for meat animals, Peterson said. He noted that producer reaction to the announcement of a mandatory ID program led USDA to back off and say the program would be voluntary. But he noted that other developed countries have mandatory ID, and “In the end these (two systems) are going to get married.”
This speech came as the Food Marketing Institute released a report claiming that mandatory COOL for seafood has not delivered the benefits promised by the law, and has cost retailers and suppliers much more than USDA estimated.