Labeling Law Has Costs

Implementing the mandatory country of origin labeling law will be burdensome for U.S. cattlemen according to a report released Sept. 10 by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). While disputing initial costs estimated by the USDA, the GAO concluded “Any procedures AMS (USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service) puts in place to implement country-of-origin labeling will inevitably impose an additional burden on the U.S. meat, fish and shellfish industries.”

 “This review by GAO confirms that country of origin labeling won’t be free,” says NCBA Director of Legislative Affairs Bryan Dierlam. “Cattle producers and industry groups agree that there is a better way to inform consumers about the origin of their beef than this costly burdensome law. That’s why NCBA has long advocated a different approach to labeling — one that promotes U.S. beef, not burdens U.S. producers.”