Organization for Competitive Markets
P.O. Box 6486
Lincoln, NE 68506
Date: June 17, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Lockie, 406.628.9850
OCM Urges Opposition to Goodlatte/Stenholm “Kill COOL”
Bill
Lincoln, NE ~ The
Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is urging consumers and agricultural
producers nation wide to oppose efforts by U.S. Representatives Bob Goodlatte
(R-VA) and Charles Stenholm (R-TX) to repeal the Country of Origin Labeling
(COOL) provisions within the 2002 Farm Bill.
At a joint press
conference on Tuesday, June 15, the congressmen announced introduction of a
bill that would repeal COOL and replace it with a voluntary program. Although a
date for introduction of the legislation was not made public, it is expected
very soon.
"We are astounded
that Representatives Goodlatte and Stenholm are insistent on defying the wishes
of consumers and agricultural producers to be informed of the origin of food
products in the wake of the BSE crisis and the recent deaths from food-borne
illnesses linked to imported Mexican green onions," said OCM President
Fred Stokes. "America has had voluntary labeling since the Declaration of
Independence. But food processors have decided to keep that information secret
thus far. Today, multinational food processors like Cargill refuse to disclose
to consumers whether their beef is from its Australian cattle feeding
operations; Tyson has not seen fit to reveal whether its beef is from its
Canadian feedyards; and Smithfield has not chosen to label their Mexican pork
as such. Voluntary labeling programs do not work."
OCM supports two bills
introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Bono and Hooley (HR 3993) and
Peterson-Rehberg (HR 3083) that 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 beginning September 31, 2004. A bill introduced
in the Senate by Democratic Senators Tom Daschle and Tim Johnson (SD) would
reinstate the original September deadline to implement COOL.
"Every farmer,
rancher, consumer and organization that supports COOL will oppose the
Goodlatte-Stenholm ‘Kill COOL bill’,” asserted Stokes. "We expect to see
the agribusiness industry working very hard to kill COOL so they may continue
sourcing cheap food products from around the world and deny consumers information
about country of origin. Without a doubt they’ll pull out all the stops to
protect their ability to mislead the American public. The food industry
multi-nationals fought nutrition labeling, but consumers were successful in
passing a law requiring it. Together, we will ultimately win our right to
effective, meaningful and truthful country of origin food labeling," said
Stokes. "We urge every COOL supporter to contact their congressional
delegations asking them to defeat the Goodlatte-Stenholm ‘Kill COOL
bill’."
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 funding the effort to increase demand for U.S. cattle and
beef in open and competitive markets.