As part of the $1 trillion government funding bill awaiting a vote in Congress, lawmakers would direct USDA to suggest changes by May 1 in the law that requires packages of beef, pork and chicken to list where the meat was born, raised and slaughtered. The language appears in an explanatory statement that accompanies the bill. Such statements do not carry the force of law but are powerful advice to federal officials.
Country-of-origin labeling (COOL) has been controversial for years. The World Trade Organization ruled on Oct 20 the U.S. rules distort trade by discriminating against Canada and Mexico. The decision is under appeal. While consumer and the largest U.S. farm groups support COOL as a consumer right to know, the labels are opposed by foodmakers and the largest cattle and hog producer groups. They say it is a costly paperwork burden.
Lawmakers also direct USDA “not to implement a second, duplicative beef checkoff program.” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has proposed a new checkoff because of disagreement among farm groups over reform of the existing checkoff of $1 a head.
The National Farmers Union and U.S. Cattlemen’s Association sent a letter to congressional leaders objecting that the provisions are unwarranted and could lead to abandonment of the U.S. appeal at WTO. They blamed the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, which gets the lion’s share of checkoff money, for the ban on a new research and promotion program.
A provision in the bill, Section 731, would nullify fair-play livestock marketing rules promulgated by USDA after the 2008 farm law and opposed by meatpackers. Ferd Hoefner of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition said it was unprecedented for Congress to use an appropriations bill to rescind regulations.
Also in the explanatory statement was language to halt a Farm Service Agency plan to close 250 local offices and language requiring FDA to work with the food industry “to identify questions and concerns, and provide any clarifcation necessary, including publication of any necessary guidance, not later than March 1” on a regulation issued on Dec 1 to put calorie counts on menus for restaurant and carry-out food.
The House will vote today on the massive spending bill, says the schedule posted by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.