THE TOP TEN REASONS WHY U.S. CONSUMERS DESERVE SWIFT IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING
10. Since 1930 Congress has agreed that labeling imports is important. In 1930 Congress passed a law that required most imports to be labeled at retail. If Congress thinks it's so important to label the clothes you wear, isn't it as important to label what you put in your mouth?
9. Voluntary labeling of imports doesn't work. Some have suggested that a voluntary labeling program should be adopted. We've had a voluntary program of labeling for over 70 years and its obvious, it doesn't work. More importantly, consumers overwhelmingly support mandatory country of origin labeling.
8. Country of origin labeling costs virtually nothing. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, a state where country of origin labeling for produce has been law for more than 20 years, it costs supermarkets 1 or 2 man-hours per store a week - that's far less than one cent per household per week. Aren't the benefits to consumers worth that much? Current federal rules for producers and shippers cover most of any additional effort.
7. Most of our nation's major trading partners, including Canada and Mexico, already require country of origin labeling. According to the USDA's 1998 Foreign Country of Origin Labeling Survey, the United States is among only six of the 37 reporting countries that do not require country of origin labeling on processed meat. Since the time of the 1998 survey, additional countries, such as Japan, have begun requiring country of origin labeling of meat. In addition, some 35 out of the 46 surveyed countries require country of origin labeling for fresh fruits and vegetables. As recently as January 2001, the EU Commission issued tough retail-level country of origin labeling rules for beef.
6. Country of origin labeling helps American producers compete fairly. U.S. producers invest time and resources to meet strict government regulations that help ensure only safe and wholesome products for consumers. They know that by offering consumers a consistently high quality product, labeling can be a valuable tool to help them compete in a marketplace where food products - domestic or imported - gain market share based on performance and value.
5. Who is Against Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling? The major opponents of mandatory labeling are retail grocery chains and large food processors. Mandatory labeling would require only the identification of the country of origin of the meat or produce on the product itself or on the shelf or counters. So, meat from Mexico or garlic from China would have to be identified.
4. Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling is Widely Supported. An overwhelming majority of U.S. producer groups of America supported mandatory labeling legislation. More than 55 Cattle groups from New Jersey to California, from Alabama to Idaho support labeling. The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union support mandatory labeling. Nearly 90 farm, ranch, and consumer groups have written to Congress in support of labeling and the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumer's League, and Public citizen support mandating country of origin labeling.
3. Overwhelmingly, consumers want to know where their food comes from. Recent polls found nearly four of every five consumers support mandatory country of origin labeling of fresh produce, and 86 percent support country of origin labeling for meats.
2. Country of origin labeling helps food consumers make an informed choice. Labeling works in concert with government inspections, combining regulations and market competition. Only through mandatory labeling can consumers be certain of buying quality food products from the country of their choice.
1. Congress approved and the president signed legislation creating mandatory Country of Origin Labeling. The Senate and House versions of the farm bill adopted language in support of mandatory country of origin labeling. House members voted nearly three-to-one (296 to 121) in favor of mandatory country of origin labeling for produce. The Senate farm bill requires country of origin labeling for fresh produce, peanuts and meat products including beef, pork, lamb and farm-raised fish.
Country of origin labeling of food benefits American consumers and farmers. Retailers and food processors say the costs are too high, but consumers our nation's major trading partners know better.
10. Since 1930 Congress has agreed that labeling imports is important. In 1930 Congress passed a law that required most imports to be labeled at retail. If Congress thinks it's so important to label the clothes you wear, isn't it as important to label what you put in your mouth?
9. Voluntary labeling of imports doesn't work. Some have suggested that a voluntary labeling program should be adopted. We've had a voluntary program of labeling for over 70 years and its obvious, it doesn't work. More importantly, consumers overwhelmingly support mandatory country of origin labeling.
8. Country of origin labeling costs virtually nothing. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, a state where country of origin labeling for produce has been law for more than 20 years, it costs supermarkets 1 or 2 man-hours per store a week - that's far less than one cent per household per week. Aren't the benefits to consumers worth that much? Current federal rules for producers and shippers cover most of any additional effort.
7. Most of our nation's major trading partners, including Canada and Mexico, already require country of origin labeling. According to the USDA's 1998 Foreign Country of Origin Labeling Survey, the United States is among only six of the 37 reporting countries that do not require country of origin labeling on processed meat. Since the time of the 1998 survey, additional countries, such as Japan, have begun requiring country of origin labeling of meat. In addition, some 35 out of the 46 surveyed countries require country of origin labeling for fresh fruits and vegetables. As recently as January 2001, the EU Commission issued tough retail-level country of origin labeling rules for beef.
6. Country of origin labeling helps American producers compete fairly. U.S. producers invest time and resources to meet strict government regulations that help ensure only safe and wholesome products for consumers. They know that by offering consumers a consistently high quality product, labeling can be a valuable tool to help them compete in a marketplace where food products - domestic or imported - gain market share based on performance and value.
5. Who is Against Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling? The major opponents of mandatory labeling are retail grocery chains and large food processors. Mandatory labeling would require only the identification of the country of origin of the meat or produce on the product itself or on the shelf or counters. So, meat from Mexico or garlic from China would have to be identified.
4. Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling is Widely Supported. An overwhelming majority of U.S. producer groups of America supported mandatory labeling legislation. More than 55 Cattle groups from New Jersey to California, from Alabama to Idaho support labeling. The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union support mandatory labeling. Nearly 90 farm, ranch, and consumer groups have written to Congress in support of labeling and the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumer's League, and Public citizen support mandating country of origin labeling.
3. Overwhelmingly, consumers want to know where their food comes from. Recent polls found nearly four of every five consumers support mandatory country of origin labeling of fresh produce, and 86 percent support country of origin labeling for meats.
2. Country of origin labeling helps food consumers make an informed choice. Labeling works in concert with government inspections, combining regulations and market competition. Only through mandatory labeling can consumers be certain of buying quality food products from the country of their choice.
1. Congress approved and the president signed legislation creating mandatory Country of Origin Labeling. The Senate and House versions of the farm bill adopted language in support of mandatory country of origin labeling. House members voted nearly three-to-one (296 to 121) in favor of mandatory country of origin labeling for produce. The Senate farm bill requires country of origin labeling for fresh produce, peanuts and meat products including beef, pork, lamb and farm-raised fish.
Country of origin labeling of food benefits American consumers and farmers. Retailers and food processors say the costs are too high, but consumers our nation's major trading partners know better.
