House Agriculture Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member Charlie Stenholm introduced new country-of-origin labeling legislation.  Upon introduction, the bill had 13 additional co-sponsors.  THe bill, known as the "Food Protection Act of 2004," will amend the Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946, directing the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the voluntary labeling of produce, meat (including beef, pork, veal and lamb), and seafood with country-of-origin information. 

The bill is supported by 325 different groups -- AAMP has been a longtime supporter of country-of-origin labeling.  It will allow producers to work with processors and retailers to provide labeling information in the marketplace in such a way that informs consumers and benefits producers. 

"The legislation we are introducing will strike the onerous mandatory system and require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish in its place a rigorous voluntary program," Goodlatte said.  "This will allow producers to work with processors and retailers to provide labeling information to help them market their product.  This approach, which benefits both consumers and producers, is preferable to a mandatory program which is more likely to hurt the folks it was intended to help."  Ranking Member Charlie Stenholm said, "When we passed the 2002 Farm Bill, we provided two years to review the country-of-origin labeling provisions in order to fine-tune them as necessary.  Although the time period has slipped a bit, we now begin the legislative process of making the COOL provisions work, and I am confident we will end up with a better product."

Goodlatte and Stenholm were joined in speaking by five producer groups representing America's cattle ranchers, pork producers, seafood producers and producer grower-shippers who are supporting the proposed plan to label domestic produced fruits, vegetables, beef, pork and seafood with labelings displaying U.S. origin.  To see the proposed bill online, go to http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/vcool.pdf.