FARM GROUPS CALL ON CONGRESS TO PASS MEAT LABELING PROVISION

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 21, 1998) – The grassroots membership of some of the nation's leading farm groups have joined the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) to call on Congress to approve a bill that would require labeling of meat at the grocery counter. Members of the National Farmer's Union (NFU), the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) are joining NCBA members to urge their congressmen to support the measure.

The provision currently is awaiting consideration by a House-Senate appropriations conference committee. There are concerns that recent questions over committee jurisdiction in the House could kill the bill in the conference process.

"Despite the parliamentary maneuvering, as well as opposition from the big packers, these producer groups have the real strength on this issue - the membership and voice of grassroots producers who support meat labeling," said NCBA President Clark Willingham. "If producers talk to their congressmen, we expect that Congress will do the right thing and listen to the grassroots voice."

The farm groups are asking all producers nationwide to contact their senators and representatives to ensure Congress adopts the meat labeling measure immediately after the August congressional recess.

"This measure is far too important to America's livestock producers to fall through the cracks over a turf battle," said NFU President Leland Swenson. "The legislation has broad bipartisan support and meets all of our obligations under the NAFTA and GATT. Producers need to make themselves heard to ensure the provision survives the conference process."

According to ASI President Lorin Moench, Jr., America's sheep producers strongly believe in the need for meat labeling. One-third of the lamb in the retail meat case is imported and little of it is being labeled as imported or with the country-of-origin.

"Producers must continue to express this request to Congress, particularly given the serious lobbying blitz against labeling by meat companies," Moench said.

AFBF President Dean Kleckner said, "Farm Bureau has long supported labeling imported meat and other perishable products. We strongly urge Congress to ensure approval of the labeling provisions this year."

"Consumers should have full access to information about where their products are produced. Labeling imported agricultural goods is simply a matter of informing the American consumer and helping assure consumer confidence in the products they choose to purchase," Kleckner added.

The measure, sponsored by Senators Tim Johnson, D-S.D. and Larry Craig, R-ID, would require labels on imported beef and lamb, as well as on foreign meat processed in the United States. While the legislation does not require labeling of ground meat, it does require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to formulate a process for mandatory labeling of ground beef and lamb within 18 months.

"Without imported meat labeling, foreign meat products will continue to be laundered and sold as U.S. meat. Imported meat labeling will increase competition at the retail meat case and ultimately improve the product," Willingham said.

Other countries already require labeling of meat and meat products, including competing export countries such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. The European Union plans to do the same by the year 2000.

-- NCBA --

Initiated in 1898, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is the marketing organization and trade association for America’s one million cattle farmers and ranchers. With offices in Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C., NCBA is a consumer-focused, producer-directed organization representing the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.