November 17th, 2005 - Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, both R-Wyo., co-sponsored legislation that would accelerate the implementation of country of origin labeling (COOL). Two weeks ago the U.S. Senate voted to delay COOL for another two years.
“We continue to stand up for consumers and producers to have commonsense labeling. The fight will continue until consumers voices are heard above the voices of the meatpackers,” Thomas said.
“We’re doing this for the consumers and independent ranchers. The no-labeling lobby will sooner or later fall victim to its own self interest and the greater good will win out. Labeling is law, a good law that makes sense for consumers and cents for our ranchers,” Enzi said.
The bill would undo the changes to COOL implementation made by the Agricultural Appropriations bill, which the President signed into law today. The bill would change back the implementation date for COOL from 2008 to 2006.
Conrad Burns, R-Mont., introduced the bill that was co-sponsored by Thomas and Enzi as well as Senators John Thune, R-S.D., Tim Johnson, R-S.D., Byron Dorgan, D, N.D., Kent Conrad, D, N.D., Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
This is the second bill Thomas and Enzi have co-sponsored to move the date of COOL implementation forward. Both senators have also written letters urging fellow senators on conference report committees to support the implementation of COOL. The original COOL legislation was included in the 2002 Farm bill and mandated that beef, lamb, pork, fish, fruits and vegetables be labeled with their country of origin by U.S. retailers.
The senators believe that consumers will choose American made products for their safety, quality and also to support American markets. Country of origin labeling provides consumers with the information to make those choices. Thomas and Enzi said producers and consumers of seafood are already enjoying the benefits of COOL and further delays for beef and other products are not warranted. Most U.S. trade partners, including the European Union, require country of origin labeling for food. Virtually every other item a consumer buys in the U.S. indicates a country of origin.
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