Date: April 14, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Cady, 402-792-0041
OCM Supports Bono-Hooley
Legislation to Reinstate COOL
Lincoln, NE ~ The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) has joined 130 other producer and consumer groups supporting passage of legislation that would reinstate the September 30, 2004 implementation date of the mandatory country of origin labeling law (COOL).
The Bono-Hooley Act, introduced in the U.S. House by Reps. Mary Bono (R-CA) and Darlene Hooley (D-OR), would reverse a two-year delay of COOL and reinstate the law as it was passed in the 2002 Farm Bill requiring fresh fruits, vegetables, beef, pork, lamb, fish and peanuts to be labeled with country of origin information.
During a press conference to announce introduction of the legislation Rep. Bono said, “My colleagues and I worked to create a common sense approach to ensure mandatory country of origin labeling became a reality without excessive and burdensome government guidelines.” Bono said she hopes Congress will give Americans an informed choice when it comes to their purchase of fresh produce and meat products.
Rep. Hooley said, “When I walk into the grocery store to buy food for my family, I want to know where it’s grown and that it’s safe. That’s what American consumers want and it helps our local agricultural economy. We need to implement the labeling law without further delay.”
OCM President Fred Stokes concurred saying, “During a recent speech, President Bush said ‘the best products on any shelf in the world say Made in the USA’. I couldn’t agree more. Eighty percent of our trading partners require country of origin labeling for their consumers. It’s time for the millions of American consumers to have the ability to choose food products grown and processed in the U.S. The Bono-Hooley Act will restore the consumer’s right to choose and the producer’s right to differentiate their product on grocery store shelves. OCM vigorously supports this legislation.”
The Organization
for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a multidisciplinary, nonprofit group of
farmers, ranchers, academics, attorneys and policy makers dedicated to
reclaiming the agricultural marketplace for independent 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.