Goodlatte to introduce bill to repeal COOL for produce
Goodlatte to introduce bill to repeal COOL for produce
With legislation just introduced that would repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling for meat, members of the produce industry wonder if their products can be far behind.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) is planning to introduce a comprehensive bill in the coming weeks that would add produce and seafood to the list of commodities no longer controlled by the mandatory COOL law.
Without congressional action, mandatory labeling for produce is scheduled to go into effect Sept. 30, 2006. The labeling program already kicked in for fish and shellfish on April 4.
On May 4, Rep. Goodlatte jump-started the dialogue by introducing a bill that would require the secretary of agriculture to set up a voluntary labeling program for beef, pork and lamb.
"It has been three years since enactment of the 2002 farm bill, and yet there is still a lack of consensus about how the COOL provisions can best be implemented," said Rep. Goodlatte, who introduced the meat-only COOL bill earlier this month. I have always favored a voluntary approach, and the legislation we are introducing will replace the current mandatory system, with its potential for creating another layer of regulatory and business cost, with a voluntary program.
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association's Ray Gilmer said that his group is concerned the meat-only bill would start a slippery slope, as lawmakers could pass that bill, then decide in a closed-door conference session to add fruits and vegetables and repeal the entire law without input from the industry.
FFVA backs mandatory COOL and has long-held the position that the program would be more palatable to the industry if U.S. Department of Agriculture fixed its regulations, said Mr. Gilmer.
The Produce Marketing Association continues to support voluntary country-of-origin labeling in lieu of mandatory COOL. Many in the meat industry feel the same way and are pursuing any paths that they believe will help them achieve that goal, said PMAs Kathy Means.
COOL supporters say that Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) is expected to reintroduce her bill soon that would speed the date for mandatory COOL to go into effect. One source said there is still support for mandatory COOL on Capitol Hill as lawmakers can see seafood implementing the origin labeling program and the sky has not fallen.
Meanwhile, a broad array of produce groups, including mandatory COOL supporters, continues to work on an alternate plan that the entire industry could embrace.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) is planning to introduce a comprehensive bill in the coming weeks that would add produce and seafood to the list of commodities no longer controlled by the mandatory COOL law.
Without congressional action, mandatory labeling for produce is scheduled to go into effect Sept. 30, 2006. The labeling program already kicked in for fish and shellfish on April 4.
On May 4, Rep. Goodlatte jump-started the dialogue by introducing a bill that would require the secretary of agriculture to set up a voluntary labeling program for beef, pork and lamb.
"It has been three years since enactment of the 2002 farm bill, and yet there is still a lack of consensus about how the COOL provisions can best be implemented," said Rep. Goodlatte, who introduced the meat-only COOL bill earlier this month. I have always favored a voluntary approach, and the legislation we are introducing will replace the current mandatory system, with its potential for creating another layer of regulatory and business cost, with a voluntary program.
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association's Ray Gilmer said that his group is concerned the meat-only bill would start a slippery slope, as lawmakers could pass that bill, then decide in a closed-door conference session to add fruits and vegetables and repeal the entire law without input from the industry.
FFVA backs mandatory COOL and has long-held the position that the program would be more palatable to the industry if U.S. Department of Agriculture fixed its regulations, said Mr. Gilmer.
The Produce Marketing Association continues to support voluntary country-of-origin labeling in lieu of mandatory COOL. Many in the meat industry feel the same way and are pursuing any paths that they believe will help them achieve that goal, said PMAs Kathy Means.
COOL supporters say that Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) is expected to reintroduce her bill soon that would speed the date for mandatory COOL to go into effect. One source said there is still support for mandatory COOL on Capitol Hill as lawmakers can see seafood implementing the origin labeling program and the sky has not fallen.
Meanwhile, a broad array of produce groups, including mandatory COOL supporters, continues to work on an alternate plan that the entire industry could embrace.
