FARM BUREAU TESTIFIES IN SUPPORT OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is as much a consumer issue as it is a producer issue, Steve Kouplen, president of Oklahoma Farm Bureau, said during a USDA committee hearing in Kansas City, May 6.
Speaking before a standing-room-only crowd, Kouplen said consumers want to know if their food is domestically or foreign produced.
"Research has shown consumers prefer products made in the U.S.," Kouplen said.
Quoting a 2002 survey in Chicago and Denver, Kouplen said consumers were willing to pay a premium for steak labeled "Guaranteed USA: Born and Raised in the U.S."
Beginning Sept. 30, 2004, the farm bill requires food products to be labeled with a country of origin. Proof of origin could require massive record-keeping headaches for everyone from producers to retailers, Kouplen said.
"Our major concern is to make certain the program is not burdensome or too costly for producers," Kouplen said.
The Beggs rancher stated a verification system is already in place to identify imported food.
"Most of the meat processed in this country is of U.S. origin and qualifies for the Product of the U.S. label," Kouplen said. "Animals imported into this country must have health certificates. As a result, the initial producers can easily identify which livestock would not be eligible for the U.S. label."
While emphasizing the importance of COOL to both consumers and producers, Kouplen told USDA officials it is not a food safety issue.
"Food safety is already addressed in a multitude of ways by other existing laws that ensure our food supply is the safest in the world," Kouplen said.
The Farm Bureau leader said he is concerned producers may not have adequate time to prepare for the labeling law.
"Because of the complex structure of the cattle industry, it is imperative final regulations be made available by the end of this year," Kouplen said.
