COOL resurfaces as concerns about imports increase
COOL resurfaces as concerns about imports increase
WASHINGTON -- Daily headlines questioning the safety of Chinese food exports have fueled more calls on Capitol Hill to resuscitate the 2002 country-of-origin labeling law.
Currently, legislation that would fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture sets firm dates for implementing the country-of-origin labeling law for produce, peanuts and meat.
Under the bill, which has passed a House of Representatives subcommittee, the USDA would have to meet deadlines to implement COOL by Sept. 30, 2008, for all covered commodities. Proposed regulations would have to be published by Jan. 17, 2008, and a final rule issued by July 19, 2008.
Texas Republicans -- backed by the meat industry -- had blocked the USDA from funding COOL for certain commodities, but chances for moving ahead with the controversial labeling law improved when Rep. Rosa Delauro (D-CT), a major supporter of COOL, became chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture.
A coalition of produce groups has drafted an alternative, voluntary approach for labeling fresh fruit and vegetables, but with consequences if the industry does not comply with the program. The draft language has been circulated on Capitol Hill for months and may be attached during the July 19 markup of the 2007 farm bill.
"Either you do it or you don't," said Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association President Mike Stuart, who said that it comes down to semantics of whether COOL is mandatory or voluntary. Under the alternative program, the industry would have to comply with the rule or face a mandatory labeling program, he said.
Robert Guenther of the United Fresh Produce Association said that the produce industry could live with the new timelines if the USDA adopts its voluntary approach, meaning a 70 percent compliance rate or mandatory labeling.
Groups such as the National Farmers Union hailed the move to keep COOL on track in light of growing concerns about imports.
"In the face of these overwhelming facts and concerns about food safety, opponents of COOL are again seeking to deny consumers and families the basic information about which country the food they consume comes from," NFU President Tom Buis wrote in a letter to House members. "I thank Congresswoman DeLauro and the subcommittee members for their leadership in ensuring the USDA releases common sense rules for COOL in a timely fashion."
A House subcommittee charged with drafting the spending bill for the USDA and the Food & Drug Administration also agreed to $28 million above FDA's food-safety budget request. Rep. Delauro said that she hoped the funding "will be the first step in a fundamental transformation in the regulation of food safety at FDA."
The bill also "directs the FDA to submit a plan to begin changing its approach to food safety when it submits the fiscal year 2009 budget, giving the committee time to review the plan before the funds to implement it become available on July 1, 2008," she said.
Meanwhile, in another congressional committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) announced that he would be releasing a new report in the coming days on the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables and the industry's response to recent outbreaks.
Currently, legislation that would fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture sets firm dates for implementing the country-of-origin labeling law for produce, peanuts and meat.
Under the bill, which has passed a House of Representatives subcommittee, the USDA would have to meet deadlines to implement COOL by Sept. 30, 2008, for all covered commodities. Proposed regulations would have to be published by Jan. 17, 2008, and a final rule issued by July 19, 2008.
Texas Republicans -- backed by the meat industry -- had blocked the USDA from funding COOL for certain commodities, but chances for moving ahead with the controversial labeling law improved when Rep. Rosa Delauro (D-CT), a major supporter of COOL, became chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture.
A coalition of produce groups has drafted an alternative, voluntary approach for labeling fresh fruit and vegetables, but with consequences if the industry does not comply with the program. The draft language has been circulated on Capitol Hill for months and may be attached during the July 19 markup of the 2007 farm bill.
"Either you do it or you don't," said Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association President Mike Stuart, who said that it comes down to semantics of whether COOL is mandatory or voluntary. Under the alternative program, the industry would have to comply with the rule or face a mandatory labeling program, he said.
Robert Guenther of the United Fresh Produce Association said that the produce industry could live with the new timelines if the USDA adopts its voluntary approach, meaning a 70 percent compliance rate or mandatory labeling.
Groups such as the National Farmers Union hailed the move to keep COOL on track in light of growing concerns about imports.
"In the face of these overwhelming facts and concerns about food safety, opponents of COOL are again seeking to deny consumers and families the basic information about which country the food they consume comes from," NFU President Tom Buis wrote in a letter to House members. "I thank Congresswoman DeLauro and the subcommittee members for their leadership in ensuring the USDA releases common sense rules for COOL in a timely fashion."
A House subcommittee charged with drafting the spending bill for the USDA and the Food & Drug Administration also agreed to $28 million above FDA's food-safety budget request. Rep. Delauro said that she hoped the funding "will be the first step in a fundamental transformation in the regulation of food safety at FDA."
The bill also "directs the FDA to submit a plan to begin changing its approach to food safety when it submits the fiscal year 2009 budget, giving the committee time to review the plan before the funds to implement it become available on July 1, 2008," she said.
Meanwhile, in another congressional committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) announced that he would be releasing a new report in the coming days on the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables and the industry's response to recent outbreaks.
