"Voluntary" Origin Label Bill
Another Chapter In Long Fight
WASHINGTON — The country of origin labeling controversy has taken another turn.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., this month introduced voluntary country of origin labeling legislation.
Goodlatte's "Meat Promotion Act of 2005," H.R. 2068, would amend the country of origin labeling requirements in the 2002 farm bill that require mandatory country of origin labeling of retail meat at point of sale. Restaurants and the food service industry aren't covered by either bill.
While the country of origin sections of the 2002 Farm Bill include meat, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables, the proposed voluntary legislation applies only to beef, pork and lamb.
Meat labeled under the program would have to be born, raised and slaughtered in the United States. The Secretary of Agriculture would create a label retailers could use to designate the country of origin.
"It has been three years since enactment of the 2002 farm bill, and yet there is still a lack of consensus about how the COOL provisions can best be implemented," Goodlatte said in a written statement concerning the proposed legislation.
"I have always favored a voluntary approach, and the legislation we are introducing will replace the current mandatory system, with its potential for creating another layer of regulatory and business cost, with a voluntary program. This approach benefits consumers and producers and is preferable to a mandatory program that is more likely to hurt the people it was intended to help."
The bill comes in response to calls for a voluntary program that is market-driven, says Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, Texas, and one of the cosponsors of the bill.
"We appreciate Chairman Goodlatte," says Richard McDonald, president and CEO of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
McDonald says TCFA and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association support Goodlatte's bill.
Jim McAdams, president of the NCBA, says nearly 60 food and agricultural groups support the bipartisan bill.
Goodlatte contends that a voluntary program that is market-driven recognizes existing labeling programs, minimizes recordkeeping, allows flexibility and is cost-effective.
McDonald says proposed legislation puts the marketplace in charge. He says the bill does not discriminate against any groups in the marketing chain, and he says it is based on existing state and regional labeling programs.
Goodlatte says that under his proposed legislation, compliance with the country of origin labeling provision in the 2002 farm bill would no longer be mandatory.
Participants in the program would be required to maintain source verification records. The bill states that the Secretary of Agriculture may require participants in the program to maintain a recordkeeping audit trail that will permit the USDA to verify compliance with the program.
The bill also leaves drawing specific regulations for the program up to the USDA.
Violators of the program, such as anyone who labels meat that has not been born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S. as having U.S. country-of-origin status, are subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000.
"The stated intent of those who advocate a mandatory COOL scheme has been to benefit producers, which is a worthy goal," Goodlatte says. "Unfortunately, no one has made a clear case to me that mandatory COOL does anything to help producers. The voluntary approach in this bill ensures that those who are paying the cost of the regulations will be doing so because they have determined that there is an added benefit provided by the program."
For their part, officials at R-CALF USA, a Montana-based cattlemen's group that has fought hard for the mandatory version of country of origin labeling, say they are disappointed in Goodlatte's voluntary bill. They say the proposed voluntary act has no substance.
Leo McDonnell, R-CALF USA president and co-founder, says Goodlatte's bill undermines the democratic process on which America was founded.
"One of the largest coalitions in history brought together consumers and producers to develop and help pass the legislation that created mandatory COOL," McDonnell says in a prepared statement.
"Rep. Goodlatte's proposal will gut the current law and deny consumers their right to make informed purchases by being given truthful labeling about where the beef they feed their families comes from."
The 2002 farm bill included a provision that would have implemented mandatory COOL on Sept. 30, 2004. Opponents, including meatpacking and retail lobby groups, as well as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, McDonnell says, were successful in delaying implementation of the law until Sept. 30, 2006.
"The meatpackers, retailers and their allied industry groups will stop at nothing to repeal mandatory COOL," McDonnell says. "Their claim that a voluntary program will work is ludicrous."
McDonnell says USDA admits that no retailers have participated in a voluntary labeling program that has existed for years.
"There is no excuse for denying American consumers the choice of U.S.A.-raised beef, pork, vegetables and fruits," McDonnell says. "NCBA's opposition to mandatory COOL undermines the demand transparencies and marketing changes needed by U.S. ranchers to successfully compete in a growing global market."
Attacking NCBA, McDonnell says the national cattlemen's group has been the primary force in delaying the implementation of a mandatory program, and now they are trying to kill it altogether.
Chuck Kiker, a regional R-CALF director, says Goodlatte's proposal for a voluntary labeling program does nothing but help U.S. packers pad their pockets by using imports to leverage down U.S. cattle prices.
"All Goodlatte's proposal will do is help U.S. packers who are expanding operations in Canada continue to dump Canadian beef into the U.S. market — beef that no other countries will take — and this Canadian beef will continue to be disguised as U.S. beef," Kiker says.
"However, if mandatory COOL stands, Canadian beef products will be labeled as 'Product of Canada,' and no doubt, some of that product will sell, but at a much discounted price. Mandatory labeling would reduce the already exorbitant profits currently being realized by the packers on imported meat, and that's why they want to replace it with a voluntary program."
Bill Bullard, R-CALF chief executive officer, says the legislation proposed by Goodlatte represents the continued efforts of the opposition to kill mandatory COOL.
"These opponents continue to claim that a mandatory labeling program is impossible, but anyone can go to their grocer's seafood counter today and see firsthand the results of the labeling requirements that took effect in April of this year," says Bullard. "This underscores the fact that mandatory COOL isn't rocket science."
Danni Beer, a South Dakota rancher who serves as chair of R-CALF's COOL committee, says Goodlatte is misleading everyone by portraying his proposed legislation as a positive move. Beer says it's something negative both for U.S. consumers and U.S. cattle producers.
"Those opposed to mandatory COOL keep saying it would just be too expensive and burdensome to producers, but R-CALF has repeatedly explained how to implement the program in a very cost-effective manner to the tune of less than one-tenth of one cent per pound, according to a May 2003 study by the International Agricultural Trade and Policy Center," Beer says.
The 33 cosponsors of Goodlatte's bill are Representives Marion Berry, D-Ark.; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; John Boehner, R-Ohio; Henry Bonilla, R-Texas; G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C.; Eric Cantor, R-Va.; Michael Conaway, R-Texas; John T. Doolittle, R-Calif.; Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo.; Bob Etheridge, D-N.C.; Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.; Sam Graves, R-Mo.; Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn.; Robin Hayes, R-N.C.; William Jefferson, D-La.; Mark Kennedy, R-Minn.; Jack Kingston, R-Ga.; John Kline, R-Minn.; Tom Latham, R-Iowa; David Manzullo, R-Ill.; Patrick McHenry, R-N.C.; Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas; Solomon Ortiz, D-Texas; Michael Oxley, R-Ohio; Mike Pence, R-Ind.; Mike Ross, D-Ark.; David Scott, D-Ga.; Pete Sessions, R-Texas; John Shimkus, R-Ill; Vic Snyder, D-Ark.; Mac Thornberry, R-Texas; Jerry Weller, R-Ill.; and Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga.
Another Chapter In Long Fight
WASHINGTON — The country of origin labeling controversy has taken another turn.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., this month introduced voluntary country of origin labeling legislation.
Goodlatte's "Meat Promotion Act of 2005," H.R. 2068, would amend the country of origin labeling requirements in the 2002 farm bill that require mandatory country of origin labeling of retail meat at point of sale. Restaurants and the food service industry aren't covered by either bill.
While the country of origin sections of the 2002 Farm Bill include meat, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables, the proposed voluntary legislation applies only to beef, pork and lamb.
Meat labeled under the program would have to be born, raised and slaughtered in the United States. The Secretary of Agriculture would create a label retailers could use to designate the country of origin.
"It has been three years since enactment of the 2002 farm bill, and yet there is still a lack of consensus about how the COOL provisions can best be implemented," Goodlatte said in a written statement concerning the proposed legislation.
"I have always favored a voluntary approach, and the legislation we are introducing will replace the current mandatory system, with its potential for creating another layer of regulatory and business cost, with a voluntary program. This approach benefits consumers and producers and is preferable to a mandatory program that is more likely to hurt the people it was intended to help."
The bill comes in response to calls for a voluntary program that is market-driven, says Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, Texas, and one of the cosponsors of the bill.
"We appreciate Chairman Goodlatte," says Richard McDonald, president and CEO of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
McDonald says TCFA and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association support Goodlatte's bill.
Jim McAdams, president of the NCBA, says nearly 60 food and agricultural groups support the bipartisan bill.
Goodlatte contends that a voluntary program that is market-driven recognizes existing labeling programs, minimizes recordkeeping, allows flexibility and is cost-effective.
McDonald says proposed legislation puts the marketplace in charge. He says the bill does not discriminate against any groups in the marketing chain, and he says it is based on existing state and regional labeling programs.
Goodlatte says that under his proposed legislation, compliance with the country of origin labeling provision in the 2002 farm bill would no longer be mandatory.
Participants in the program would be required to maintain source verification records. The bill states that the Secretary of Agriculture may require participants in the program to maintain a recordkeeping audit trail that will permit the USDA to verify compliance with the program.
The bill also leaves drawing specific regulations for the program up to the USDA.
Violators of the program, such as anyone who labels meat that has not been born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S. as having U.S. country-of-origin status, are subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000.
"The stated intent of those who advocate a mandatory COOL scheme has been to benefit producers, which is a worthy goal," Goodlatte says. "Unfortunately, no one has made a clear case to me that mandatory COOL does anything to help producers. The voluntary approach in this bill ensures that those who are paying the cost of the regulations will be doing so because they have determined that there is an added benefit provided by the program."
For their part, officials at R-CALF USA, a Montana-based cattlemen's group that has fought hard for the mandatory version of country of origin labeling, say they are disappointed in Goodlatte's voluntary bill. They say the proposed voluntary act has no substance.
Leo McDonnell, R-CALF USA president and co-founder, says Goodlatte's bill undermines the democratic process on which America was founded.
"One of the largest coalitions in history brought together consumers and producers to develop and help pass the legislation that created mandatory COOL," McDonnell says in a prepared statement.
"Rep. Goodlatte's proposal will gut the current law and deny consumers their right to make informed purchases by being given truthful labeling about where the beef they feed their families comes from."
The 2002 farm bill included a provision that would have implemented mandatory COOL on Sept. 30, 2004. Opponents, including meatpacking and retail lobby groups, as well as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, McDonnell says, were successful in delaying implementation of the law until Sept. 30, 2006.
"The meatpackers, retailers and their allied industry groups will stop at nothing to repeal mandatory COOL," McDonnell says. "Their claim that a voluntary program will work is ludicrous."
McDonnell says USDA admits that no retailers have participated in a voluntary labeling program that has existed for years.
"There is no excuse for denying American consumers the choice of U.S.A.-raised beef, pork, vegetables and fruits," McDonnell says. "NCBA's opposition to mandatory COOL undermines the demand transparencies and marketing changes needed by U.S. ranchers to successfully compete in a growing global market."
Attacking NCBA, McDonnell says the national cattlemen's group has been the primary force in delaying the implementation of a mandatory program, and now they are trying to kill it altogether.
Chuck Kiker, a regional R-CALF director, says Goodlatte's proposal for a voluntary labeling program does nothing but help U.S. packers pad their pockets by using imports to leverage down U.S. cattle prices.
"All Goodlatte's proposal will do is help U.S. packers who are expanding operations in Canada continue to dump Canadian beef into the U.S. market — beef that no other countries will take — and this Canadian beef will continue to be disguised as U.S. beef," Kiker says.
"However, if mandatory COOL stands, Canadian beef products will be labeled as 'Product of Canada,' and no doubt, some of that product will sell, but at a much discounted price. Mandatory labeling would reduce the already exorbitant profits currently being realized by the packers on imported meat, and that's why they want to replace it with a voluntary program."
Bill Bullard, R-CALF chief executive officer, says the legislation proposed by Goodlatte represents the continued efforts of the opposition to kill mandatory COOL.
"These opponents continue to claim that a mandatory labeling program is impossible, but anyone can go to their grocer's seafood counter today and see firsthand the results of the labeling requirements that took effect in April of this year," says Bullard. "This underscores the fact that mandatory COOL isn't rocket science."
Danni Beer, a South Dakota rancher who serves as chair of R-CALF's COOL committee, says Goodlatte is misleading everyone by portraying his proposed legislation as a positive move. Beer says it's something negative both for U.S. consumers and U.S. cattle producers.
"Those opposed to mandatory COOL keep saying it would just be too expensive and burdensome to producers, but R-CALF has repeatedly explained how to implement the program in a very cost-effective manner to the tune of less than one-tenth of one cent per pound, according to a May 2003 study by the International Agricultural Trade and Policy Center," Beer says.
The 33 cosponsors of Goodlatte's bill are Representives Marion Berry, D-Ark.; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; John Boehner, R-Ohio; Henry Bonilla, R-Texas; G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C.; Eric Cantor, R-Va.; Michael Conaway, R-Texas; John T. Doolittle, R-Calif.; Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo.; Bob Etheridge, D-N.C.; Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.; Sam Graves, R-Mo.; Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn.; Robin Hayes, R-N.C.; William Jefferson, D-La.; Mark Kennedy, R-Minn.; Jack Kingston, R-Ga.; John Kline, R-Minn.; Tom Latham, R-Iowa; David Manzullo, R-Ill.; Patrick McHenry, R-N.C.; Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas; Solomon Ortiz, D-Texas; Michael Oxley, R-Ohio; Mike Pence, R-Ind.; Mike Ross, D-Ark.; David Scott, D-Ga.; Pete Sessions, R-Texas; John Shimkus, R-Ill; Vic Snyder, D-Ark.; Mac Thornberry, R-Texas; Jerry Weller, R-Ill.; and Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga.
