International Trade Law News

Published by Jacobson Burton Kelley PLLC

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on June 8, 2005 to delay for one more year implementation of a rule calling for mandatory country-of-origin labeling for meat and other food products. An amendment offered by Representative Dennis Rehberg (R-Mont.) to strike the delay provision from the fiscal year 2006 agriculture spending bill was rejected by the House by a 240-187 vote.

The country-of-origin labeling requirement, which was passed in 2002 and is now voluntary, would require meat, fruit, vegetables, fish and peanuts to originate, be raised and be processed in the United States in order to be labeled a "USA product." Congress voted in 2004 to delay enforcement of the provision and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must begin enforcing the rule in October unless both the House and Senate vote to delay implementation again.

Cattle ranchers in the Midwest support the country-of-origin labeling requirement, saying it would help them build brand loyalty for their products. However, meat processors, retailers and some ranchers in the South say the rule would drive up the cost of beef for consumers. Many consumer groups also support the labeling requirement.

The roll call vote on the amendment can be viewed at the following link: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll231.xml.