Food Promotion Act Puts an End to Labeling Stalemate

Cattle ranchers, pork producers, seafood producers and growers and shippers of fruits and vegetables are among 347 food groups urging support for legislation that will finally implement a long-awaited country-of-origin labeling program.  The Food Promotion Act of 2004 (H.R. 4576) will meet these objectives of both consumers and producers: to provide country-of-origin information to consumers, and to promote American agriculture products in a way that is beneficial – not burdensome – to producers and growers.

Introduced June 15 by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Ranking Minority Member Charles Stenholm (D-TX), the bill amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a voluntary country-of-origin labeling program for fruits, vegetables, meat (including beef, pork, veal, lamb) and seafood. This market-based program is designed to create a brand for “products of the U.S.” and encourage consumers to choose American products at their supermarkets. 

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), National Fisheries Institute (NFI), United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association (UFFVA) and Produce Marketing Association (PMA) are applauding the bill and are urging continued support. 

“This bill represents a bipartisan effort and a win-win for everyone,” says NCBA President Jan Lyons, a Kansas cattle producer. “This legislation allows country-of-origin labeling to move forward, giving both consumers and producers a market-driven, cost-effective labeling program.”

 “America’s pork producers have been working for years in support of a labeling program that adds value to U.S. pork products,” says NPPC Vice President Joy Philippi, a pork producer from Bruning, Neb. “We’re excited about this effort to inform consumers while giving pork producers another opportunity to build demand for their products.”

Over 75 percent of produce offered for sale in U.S. retail stores is already labeled with consumer information on a sticker or package, which can be adapted to include origin labeling. “We want consumers to have useful information about where their food comes from,” says Kathy Means, vice president of government relations at PMA. “This legislation puts origin information in the grocery stores and promotes American foods in a way that is supported by producer groups nationwide.” UFFVA President Tom Stenzel agrees, noting that “the fruit and vegetable industry is committed to providing consumers the information they want about our products. With oversight by the Department of Agriculture to measure our results, and comprehensive reporting back to Congress, this legislation will help us fulfill our commitment to consumers to provide them with country-of-origin information.”

 “This voluntary program realizes a marketing advantage for seafood producers without the cost and confusion of the mandatory rule,” says Justin LeBlanc, vice president of government relations at NFI. “Hundreds of existing voluntary programs have already proven their value for producers and consumers alike.”

The producer groups collectively represent hundreds of thousands of producers who, along with 347 food groups, have pledged their support for this effort that implements a voluntary labeling program that will be beneficial to both producers and consumers.