P.O. Box 6486

Lincoln, NE 68506

www.competitivemarkets.com

Date: December 29, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Steve Cady, 402-792-0041

OCM: Country of Origin Labeling Would Have Limited BSE Economic Impact - 

USDA Should Have Earlier Informed the Public of Presumptive Canadian Origin

Lincoln, NE ~ OCM said that the economic damage arising from the discovery of  mad cow disease in an imported Canadian cow  would likely have been limited, or nearly avoided, if country of origin labeling (COOL) was in place today.

"Japan and Korea demanded that the U.S. identify product born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S. this summer," said Fred Stokes, OCM president.  "The USDA was able to persuade them that beef sold from the U.S., though originating from other sources, was safe.  However, if we had that system in place, many of our export customers may not have stopped buying from the U.S.  The USDA and the Bush Administration should now drop its opposition to country of origin labeling.   It is not credible to say that there is no benefit to COOL."

OCM also was distressed to learn that USDA did not report earlier that the cow originated in Canada.  OCM members learned that the owner of the infected cow stated, on Wednesday, December 24, 2003, that he bought the cow from Canada in October 2001.   Yesterday, Ron DeHaven, USDA's Chief  Veterinarian, said that the cow owner informed them of the cows origin.

"There is strong evidence to suggest that USDA was told by the cow owner, before the BSE announcement, that the cow originated in Canada," continued Stokes.   "In our view, the statement of origin by the cow owner was material information that should have been disclosed at the same time as the announcement of presumptive BSE diagnosis.  By failing to disclose this information of presumptive Canadian origin at that time, our trading partners and the cattle markets likely overreacted.  The economic hole that has been dug will now be harder to fill up."

"We call on the USDA to support Country of Origin Labeling, halt the importation of Canadian meat and live cattle, and postpone the process of finalizing the proposed rules under consideration now that would allow Canadian cattle into this country,"  stated Stokes.  

The Organization for Competitive Markets is a nonprofit organization working for fair, open and competitive markets for farmers, ranchers and rural communities. OCM helps lead the Cattlemen’s Competitive Market Project which is a voluntary contribution program focusing on competition in the cattle markets.