Congress Plans 2-year Delay in Meat-Origin Labels

12/4/2003 Congress Plans 2-year Delay in Meat-Origin Labels - 11/26 Reuters

The delay is a setback for consumer and mainline farm groups which want the mandatory labels to distinguish U.S. products from foreign goods. While labeling is not a food safety measure, they say it would bolster consumer confidence.

Now voluntary, labeling is scheduled to become mandatory on Sept. 30, 2004, for red meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables and peanuts.

Postponement of mandatory labeling was part of a mammoth catch-all spending bill to fund many federal activities in fiscal 2004.

If it is passed, mandatory labeling would be delayed until Sept. 30, 2006, except for wild and farm-raised fish, said Rep. Bill Young, Florida Republican, and Sen. Ted Stevens, Alaska Republican.

The House (of Representatives) is expected to approve the package on Dec. 8. The Senate may not vote until January.

U.S. foodmakers and grocers want the law repealed on grounds it will be cumbersome and costly to obey.

"U.S. consumers want the opportunity to choose food items produced on America's farms and ranches," said Bob Stallman, president of the largest U.S. farm group, the American Farm Bureau Federation. It wants mandatory labeling to take effect in 2004.

If Congress agrees to the two-year delay, "we effectively killed" the mandatory labeling, said Sen. Charles Grassley, Iowa Republican. It may be called a delay "but you know how that game is played," he told reporters.

Stevens, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the bill faced strong opposition and might have to be recast if defeat was imminent. Young opposed alterations in the bill, the result of long and acrimonious discussions. "I think you will produce a less attractive bill," he said.

The National Farmers Union, an advocate of the labeling law, said the two-year delay was a gift to the White House. It would allow the president to run for re-election without having to face questions over the law, the NFU says.

In July, the Republican-led House voted to block implementation of mandatory labeling of meat during fiscal 2004, which began on Oct. 1. But in early November, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to have labeling take effect on time.

Mandatory labeling could cost from $580 million to $3.9 billion a year, according to government estimates. Advocates say the cost would be low if the Agriculture Department writes common-sense rules.

Some cattle and hog producer groups oppose mandatory labeling, fearing it would mean lower market prices for their animals to offset the cost of compliance for processors and foodmakers.

One opponent, the National Pork Producers Council, said the two-year hiatus would give the meat industry time to set up a "voluntary, market-based" system and a nationwide animal identification system allowing "trace back" during emergencies.

The National Cattleman's Beef Association said it would work for a voluntary labeling system that would cover beef sold at a store, served at restaurants or used by food processors.

At present, only meat sold at retail is covered. NPPC president Jon Caspers said less than half of pork would carry a country-of-origin label. NCBA said the majority of imported beef is used by the food service, so it would not be labeled.

Chicken and turkey are exempt from the labeling law.

Related Link: http://www.reuters.com

Go back to main page

This website is best viewed in or versions 4.0 and
above. All content contained herein is subject to copyright law.

Click here to unsubscribe