Tuesday, May 13, 2003

COOL Supporters Say USDA Sandbagging

WASHINGTON (DTN) -- Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., told Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman Thursday "There is a widely held and growing view the [Agriculture Department] is teaming up with the packers to sandbag" the country-of-origin labeling law Congress passed last year.

"Whether those views are legitimate, they are widely held," Johnson added. He also told Veneman that implementing a "workable" country of origin labeling scheme is "not rocket science."

He also said the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs allows labeling of cattle that come into the United States, that USDA is already labeling calves coming from Mexico with an "M" brand and that she should consider establishing a plan to label foreign animals and meat because that would be much cheaper than labeling all domestically produced animals and meat.

Veneman replied that the country-of-origin labeling provision in the farm bill "has been very controversial" and that she is hearing "more and more" from producers that they want it to remain voluntary rather than mandatory.

Veneman also noted that the Bush administration did not support the provision, but is committed to implementing it as long as it remains law. Johnson told Veneman that if she is hearing from the producers that they are worried about the record keeping required it's because of the fear that the USDA and the packers are working together to make the law difficult to enforce. Johnson also said that the law does not require third party verification of the birth of the animals.

USDA officials have acknowledged that the law does not require third party verification, but have said they have no objection if meat companies require it.