- 09.10.2008
Tester asks USDA for ‘simple correction’ to COOL rules
Senator says current rules would allow inaccurate labels on American meat
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Department of Agriculture to make a “simple correction” to its country-of-origin
labeling rules before they go into effect on September
30.
After years of delays, country-of-origin
labeling—commonly known as COOL—was passed as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. It
requires meat producers, processors, and sellers to identify which country their
product comes from.
But Tester today raised concerns about the USDA’s new
rules for COOL. Tester says the recently written rules allow some meat
processers to save money by labeling muscle cuts of meat with multiple country-of-origin labels. For
example, someone who buys a T-bone steak could see a label that says the meat is
from “
“American ranchers who work hard to raise American beef
shouldn’t have to worry about a label on their steak at the grocery store that
says, ‘This meat might be from
said.
In a letter this week, Tester asked the U.S. Secretary
of Agriculture to fix the rules.
“Failure to accurately state the origin of meat products
diminishes consumer choice and producer benefits and strays from the intent of
the law,” Tester wrote to Secretary Ed Schafer. Tester explained that multiple
country-of-origin labels are intended only for ground meat, and meat that comes
from animals raised in more than one country.
“Mandatory labeling should not be a choice for meat
packers—it should create choices for consumers,” said Tester, who cosponsored
the legislation (S. 404) to implement COOL in the U.S. Senate. Tester also led
the charge for a state version of COOL when he was President of the Montana
Senate.
In his letter Tester thanked Schafer for developing the
rules in time to meet the September 30 COOL
deadline.
“I believe that with a simple correction of the
provisions regarding multiple country labels being placed on exclusively
domestic meat, COOL can finally meet the wishes of the American public,” Tester
wrote.
Tester also praised Senator Max Baucus for helping pass
COOL saying, “Max’s role in this effort has been critically
important.”
Tester’s letter to Schafer
follows.
###
The Honorable Ed Schafer
Secretary of Agriculture
United States Department of
Agriculture
Avenue, S.W.
Dear Mr. Schafer:
I am writing to express concern about the provisions in
the Interim Final Rule for mandatory country-of-origin labeling (Docket No.
AMS-LS-07-0081) that allow for
meat products exclusively born, raised and slaughtered in the United States to
be labeled with multiple country-of-origin labels (§65.300). The intent of
country-of-origin (COOL) labeling is to provide consumers with as much
information as possible about the source of their food as well as to create new
marketing opportunities for domestic producers. Failure to accurately state the
origin of meat products diminishes consumer choice and producer benefits and
strays from the intent of the law.
Under Sec. 10003 of the 2008 Farm Bill, multiple
county-of-origin labels were reserved for meat products that were not exclusively born, raised or
slaughtered in the
States
under the Interim Final Rule, labeling of muscle cuts becomes an option, not a
requirement for the meat packing companies. Under these rules meatpackers will
be encouraged to choose their cheapest and easiest option: labeling products
with multiple countries of origin. This gives consumers the impression that
there is no domestically born, raised and slaughtered livestock and denies our
American livestock producers the opportunity to focus on promoting
beef, lamb, pork, chicken or goat meat.
With the livestock industry becoming more and more
consolidated under the control of a handful of companies, this possibility of
generic labeling should be alarming to both the USDA and American consumers. I
understand that these rules have been developed to be the least restrictive to
business; however, the priority should be adequate and accurate labeling and
consumer choice. Mandatory labeling should not be a choice for meat packers—it
should create choices for consumers. The costs of physically separating meat in
the process chain and accurately labeling products are minor in comparison to
the gains achieved by strengthening consumer information and creating additional
marketing opportunities to
I would like to thank the Department for the prompt
action in developing these interim rules and for working with livestock
producers to create acceptable affidavits to verify animal origin. American
consumers and livestock produces have been waiting six years since the 2002 Farm
Bill first passed COOL for this program to take effect. I believe that with a
simple correction of the provisions regarding multiple country labels being
placed on exclusively domestic meat, COOL can finally meet the wishes of the
American public. Thank you for consideration of these concerns.
Sincerely,