New Labeling Program Proposed

NCBA is supporting a proposed plan to label domestic produced fruits, vegetables, beef, pork and seafood with labels displaying U.S. origin. This new voluntary market-based program could offer consumers additional choices and information about agriculture products’ country of origin as well as benefit U.S. producers by promoting American-grown foods. 

Introduced June 15 by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Minority Member Charles Stenholm (D-Texas), the proposed “Food Promotion Act of 2004” will amend 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. 

NCBA, National Pork Producers Council, National Fisheries Institute, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association and Produce Marketing Association voiced strong support and gave thanks to Representatives Goodlatte and Stenholm for spearheading the bipartisan effort aimed at giving both consumers and producers a market-driven, cost-effective labeling program.

 “Cattle producers have been working for years in support of a labeling program that promotes U.S. beef without overburdening producers,” says NCBA President Jan Lyons, a Kansas cattle producer. “The initiative put forth today by Representatives Goodlatte and Stenholm represents a market-based solution which promotes American beef, without the costs and liabilities of a government mandated program.”