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USDA comments on country of origin labeling
(Thursday, March 20, 2003 -- CropChoice news) --The following is a news release from Americans for Country of Origin Labeling.
Contact: Bill Bullard (406) 252-2516, Ray Gilmer (407) 894-1351
Richland, MOUSDA representatives recently addressed several issues
concerning Country of Origin Labeling and have made a commitment to ensure
that the law is enforced and interpreted exactly as it is written.
"Ms. Veneman instructed her staff to enforce the Country of Origin Labeling
law in a manner that will be the least burdensome for producers," said A.J.
Yates, Administrator for USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Americans for Country of Origin Labeling (ACOL), a national alliance of
agricultural and consumer organizations, commends USDA and Secretary of
Agriculture Veneman for this common-sense approach, said ACOL spokesman Dr.
R. M. (Max) Thornsberry, President of the Missouri Stockgrower's Association.
"Country of Origin Labeling is not a complex issue," said
Thornsberry. "Unfortunately, certain members of the processing community
would like you to think otherwise. ACOL is grateful that USDA is able to
resist those threats and scare tactics and forge ahead to implement this
meaningful and useful law."
On March 12, 2003, Yates told Thornsberry that the Secretary had called a
meeting of AMS staff recently and instructed them to "enforce and interpret
the Country of Origin Labeling law exactly as it is written, no additions
or deletions."
According to Yates, Secretary Veneman also reminded USDA staff that "there
is nothing in the Country of Origin Labeling law that requires third party
verification. We are prohibited from requiring any form of mandatory
identification of livestock, but we are given the task of proving animals
are born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States."
In reference to letters that producers have received from meat packing
companies threatening the enforcement of third-party verification, Yates
indicated that the Packers and Stockyards Administrations enforcement team
was looking into the matter and a Cease and Desist Order may be
forthcoming. Yates also told Thornsberry that, while the packers may
impose their own interpretation of Country of Origin Labeling, the packers
will not be allowed to violate the Packers and Stockyards Act or
discriminate against producers, and he added that the labeling law is
directed at retailers, not packers.
Thornsberry said Bill Sessions, who represented USDA in a producer meeting
held recently at the Joplin Regional Stockyards in Joplin, MO, made
comments which mirrored those of Yates' comments. He reminded producers
that third party verification was not a part of the Country of Origin
Labeling law. Sessions also provided a list of common producer records as
examples of records AMS would accept for verifying origin.
Following the meeting in Joplin, Sessions told Thornsberry that his
department has been given the directive to "enforce the Country of Origin
Labeling law in a manner that would cause the least difficulty for
livestock producers."
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Consumers wishing to learn more about country of origin labeling and how to
show support for its mandatory implementation in U.S. stores can visit http://www.americansforlabeling.orgor call 800-895-2221. | |
