Food Producer Groups Applaud Passage of Food Promotion Act

A market-driven, producer-friendly country-of-origin labeling program is one step closer to reality thanks to action today by the House Agriculture Committee.  The Food Promotion Act of 2004 (H.R. 4576), which calls for the implementation of a voluntary country-of-origin labeling program, passed this morning by voice vote.

The legislation, introduced June 15 by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Ranking Minority Member Charles Stenholm (D-TX), has broad bipartisan support along with the backing of 347 food and agriculture groups including cattle ranchers, pork producers, seafood producers and growers and shippers of fruits and vegetables.

The United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association (UFFVA), National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Produce Marketing Association (PMA), and National Fisheries Institute (NFI) applaud today’s action and urge continued support as the bill moves through the House.

“The committee members who voted for this bill today have helped give consumers and producers a country-of-origin labeling program that works,” says UFFVA President Tom Stenzel. “Produce growers and shippers want consumers to have information about where their food comes from, and this bill broadens our ability to do that.”

“The Food Promotion Act meets both producers and consumers objectives to provide origin information to consumers, and to promote American agriculture products in a way that is beneficial – not burdensome – to producers,” says NPPC Vice President Joy Philippi, a pork producer from Bruning, Neb. “Pork producers in the U.S. have wanted a program like this for years, and we’re excited that this effort is moving forward.”

 “The legislation approved today puts country-of-origin information in the grocery stores and in restaurants too – if they choose to participate,” says Justin LeBlanc, vice president of government relations at NFI.  “This voluntary program achieves a marketing advantage for seafood producers in a way that encourages participation.” 

“Hundreds of existing voluntary programs have already proven their value for producers and consumers alike, especially in the fruit and vegetable industry,” says Kathy Means, vice president of government relations at PMA. “This bill builds on those successes and moves us forward with a beneficial, producer-friendly country-of-origin labeling program.”

The Food Promotion Act of 2004 amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the voluntary labeling of produce, meat (including beef, pork, veal, lamb) and seafood with country-of-origin information. The labels are aimed at encouraging consumers to choose American products at their supermarkets. 

“Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Minority Member Stenholm are moving forward with country-of-origin labeling legislation that finally makes sense,” says NCBA President Jan Lyons, a Kansas cattle producer. “After years of political debate, producers and consumers finally have a chance to have a labeling system that is market-driven and beneficial to whoever chooses to participate.”