Pay Attention – Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

<blockquote>UNITED STATES CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE n nFor More Information: Abra Belke, (202) 725-4600 nEmail Contact: abra@bigskystrategies.com n nFood Safety Events Escalate Need for Mandatory <acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> n nSan Lucas , Calif. (May 14, 2007) ~ The melamine contamination scandal that began last March in pet food has expanded in recent weeks to include feed given to hogs, chickens, and farm-raised fish. The revelation that a tainted product can move so quickly through the supply chain and contaminate product bound for American dinner tables is troubling to consumers and producers alike. n nThe United States Cattlemen’s Association (<acronym title="United States Cattleman's Association">USCA</acronym>) is asking the federal government to implement mandatory country of origin labeling (M-<acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym>) at the soonest possible date in order to maintain consumer confidence. n n“It is imperative that U.S. consumers know where their food comes from,” says Region X Director and <acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> Committee Chairperson Danni Beer. “<acronym title="United States Cattleman's Association">USCA</acronym> implores the U.S. Department of Agriculture (<acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym>) to implement M-<acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> for beef and fresh fruits and vegetables as soon as possible. The American public deserves the ability to make informed choices about the products they consume, beginning with the food we feed to our families.” n nMandatory country of origin labeling was passed as part of the 2002 Farm Bill, but the <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> has until September 30, 2008, to implement the rule. However, implementation of M-<acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> is not the only barrier to providing consumers with accurate and complete food labeling information. n nIn 2003, the GAO reported that the Tariff Act still requires that imported items be marked with their country of origin through to the ultimate purchaser,who generally would be the consumer. However, there is debate on which agency actually has authority to enforce the Tariff Act. <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> contends that the Federal Meat Inspection Act provides that imported meat products, once they have undergone safety-related inspection activities, and are “deemed and treated as domestic.” n nThese two Acts overlap each other with two different enforcement agencies, resulting in confusion. <acronym title="United States Cattleman's Association">USCA</acronym> believes this confusion was alleviated by country of origin labeling provisions in the 2002 Farm Bill and that <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> has the responsibility to work with other agencies and write a Final Rule for labeling meat products that is definitive, efficient, and economical. Lack of clarity on this issue is providing a loophole for processors and importers and prevents consumers from knowing where a product came from. n n “The United States has a number of firewalls in place that make food products – particularly beef, born, raised, and processed domestically – the healthiest, most wholesome food in the world,” says <acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> Committee member and Region V Director Chuck Kiker. “These firewalls are accomplished through government funded agencies, but the only way for taxpayers and producers to take full advantage of the services they pay for is to label food products with their origin. Differentiation of U.S. product is particularly important when the conditions and rules by which we produce food in the U.S. have been instrumental in building our reputation worldwide as producing high quality beef. American, as well as international, consumers must have the ability to choose to purchase food that has been produced through systems they are familiar with and have great confidence in.” n nCurrently, the only information available to the purchaser is a <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> mark of inspection and the <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> grade stamp. These labels have no value when determining a product’s country of origin because imported beef and cattle are eligible for these recognizable stamps. n n"<acronym title="United States Cattleman's Association">USCA</acronym> strongly urges the <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> and Congress to implement accurate and transparent food labeling. We hope that, in the future, mandatory country of origin labeling will allow U.S. consumers the right to make more informed decisions about the food they buy,” said Beer. n nEstablished in March 2007, <acronym title="United States Cattleman's Association">USCA</acronym> is committed to assembling a team to concentrate efforts in Washington D.C. to enhance and expand the cattle industry's voice on Capitol Hill. For membership forms and other information visit www.uscattlemen.org . </blockquote> n nMore and more organizations are jumping on the mandatory <acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> bandwagon. People need to pay attention though, Congress wants to mate <acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> and <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> which is not what producers want. Yes, I said producers. If the consumers were informed what these measures would cost them when they buy beef, they would not want them. I see a train wreck coming if <acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> is implemented on a hurry up basis by not considering the costs involved with doing this. Hopefully <acronym title="United States Cattleman's Association">USCA</acronym> will watch out for this coupling of <acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> and <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym>. It will be a killer if they don't. n nTruth cannot be defined or tested by agreement with 'the world'; for not only do truths differ for different worlds but the nature of agreement between a world apart from it is notoriously nebulous. Nelson Goodman