Country of Origin Labeling

NFU Blasts Anti-Family Farmer Language Snuck Into Federal Appropriations Bill

December 10, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson and United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) President Danni Beer today sent a letter to the House and Senate leaders strongly objecting to three anti-family farmer and rancher provisions slipped into the 2015 Appropriations Act in the dark of the night, without a single congressional hearing or an ounce of public discussion.

“NFU and USCA are very concerned that the report language included on Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) could be used as an opportunity to stop the appeals process at the World Trade Organization or re-open the legislation that mandated COOL, both of which are unacceptable,” notes the letter. “Congress should not intervene in the WTO process.”

Formally known as Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, the bills are being considered before both the House and the Senate this week. The joint letter points out that also hid inside the Act is a provision that orders the Secretary of Agriculture to refrain from implementing a reformed beef checkoff program, with the irony that the closing period on public comments for the beef checkoff is today.

“National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is so fearful of losing its $40 million-plus revenue stream through the beef checkoff that it has lobbied for this language to be included in the report rather than allowing producers the ability to have their comments recognized and addressed through the commenting process. NCBA has lobbied Congress on a mandatory producer checkoff program that they control,” notes the letter.

Also contained in the proposed Act is a legislative provision that prohibits the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) from implementing regulations on the livestock and poultry industry that would address an array of fraudulent, deceptive, anti-competitive and retaliatory practices.

The letter points out that gutting the GIPSA law “would deny farmers protection from retaliation when they use their first amendment rights to speak with congressional representatives, deny them the right to a jury trial, and deny them the right to request information on how their pay is calculated. This provision is unconscionable. Its inclusion in a funding bill is unacceptable to NFU’s and USCA’s members.”

“We strongly object to the use of the appropriations process as a mechanism to limit the secretary’s authority to uphold the COOL law, to respond to the dire need for reform of the beef checkoff, and to address anti-competitive market concerns.”

Read the letters in their entirety here.

U.S. Will Appeal WTO Ruling on Country of Origin Labeling

November 29, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from the National Farmers Union

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson applauded today’s decision by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to appeal the recent World Trade Organization ruling on Country-of-Origin Labeling for family farmers, ranchers, and consumers. Johnson also urged Congress to leave the popular labeling law alone and allow the WTO process to run its course.

“The decision today by the USTR to appeal the WTO ruling on COOL is the right thing to do for American family farmers, ranchers and consumers,” said Johnson. “The October WTO ruling found once again that the COOL law is WTO-compliant and acknowledged that the May 2013 USDA regulations were a significant improvement in terms of providing more accurate information to consumers. Nonetheless, the WTO incorrectly found the rules were noncompliant and an appeal is the obvious course of action.”

Johnson noted that the popular sentiment towards the labeling law shared by family farmers and consumers is not echoed by large international meatpackers, who continually try to pressure Congress to repeal the law.

“The multinational meatpacking industry continues to urge Congress to repeal COOL laws before the WTO process runs its course,” said Johnson. “These are inappropriate attempts to prevent consumers from having access to basic information about their food. Congress should ignore these scare tactics and allow the WTO process to play out before acting prematurely.”

“American consumers have been crystal clear that they want to know where their food comes from and family farmers and ranchers are proud to provide it,” said Johnson. “The decision by the USTR to appeal the WTO’s erroneous finding demonstrates full support for American family farmers, ranchers and consumers.”

Thankful for COOL on Thanksgiving … For Now – It’s Under Threat

November 26, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The following is an op-ed submitted to Ohio newspapers for the Thanksgiving holiday.

by Warren Taylor and Joe Logan

As American families prepare their Thanksgiving turkeys, they should thank local livestock farmers producing beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and dairy products. Unfortunately, politicians, lobbyists and trade negotiators in DC are working against those farmers. Shockingly, in our great country, which celebrates independent farmers and ranchers, America’s largest pork processor is Shuanghui International Holdings, a Chinese corporation. Our second largest beef company, JBS USA is a Brazilian corporation. These trans-national corporate giants show the extent of consolidation, and how globalization has played out.

These huge businesses find it profitable to shop global markets for low cost meat cuts that end up for sale in American supermarkets. Their profits soar higher as they avoid labeling the meat’s source. Customers trust American farmers and regulators to provide safe, healthy food products. Not necessarily so for Chinese or Brazilian meat.

Naturally, these meat packers oppose requirements to label the sources of meats. Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL) is that law. Although passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2002, foreign and trans-national food corporations have prevented implementation, and now look to repeal COOL.

It’s disappointing that they have found powerful allies in the Beef and Pork promotion organizations authorized by Congress and mostly funded by American farmers and ranchers. The National Cattlemens Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) are adamant opponents of COOL. The very livestock promotion organizations who should speak for American farmers and ranchers are working against their interests and the interests of 90% of American consumers seeking honest information about how and where their food is produced.

Impossible? Most other industrial agriculture nations require Country Of Origin Labeling for food. The American Meat Institute, The National Grocers Association, McDonalds and others shamelessly interested in sourcing the cheapest food possible, have assaulted America’s COOL laws. After passage in the 2002 Farm Bill and surviving four Federal Court suits, COOL is facing repeated World Trade Organization (WTO) challenges.

It’s bad enough when American business interests used money and influence to get their way in Washington DC, now it is multinational corporations’ agenda lobbying against COOL, clearly against America’s farmers’ best interests.

[Read more…]

Federal Appeals Court Cool with COOL

March 31, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Two Federal Courts Have Now Swatted Down Big Biz Attempts to Thwart COOL

In another victory for independent and family U.S. livestock farmers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has rejected an appeal from an earlier district court ruling against plaintiffs in a suit to suspend Country of Origin Labeling regulations while the plaintiff’s larger suit against COOL moves through the judicial system.

Last Friday’s decision is the latest setback for plaintiffs who filed the case in an effort to have the revised COOL regulations invalidated. The case was filed on July 8, 2013, by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, American Meat Institute, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian Pork Council, North American Meat Association, American Association of Meat Processors, National Pork Producers Council, Southwest Meat Association and Mexico’s National Confederation of Livestock Organizations.

While that larger case is being adjudicated, plaintiffs have sought an injunction which would have prevented existing COOL regulations from remaining in effect. For now, COOL stands.

The National Farmers Union, together with the United States Cattlemen’s Association, the American Sheep Industry Association and the Consumer Federation of America, intervened to defend the COOL regulations from challenge, and they actively participated in a briefing at the District Court and the Court of Appeals, as well as the preliminary injunction hearing at the District Court.

“I am extremely pleased with today’s decision,” said Roger Johnson, NFU president. “Yet again, claims that the revised COOL regulations are unconstitutional or inconsistent with the COOL statute have been rejected in federal court.”

“Today’s decision notes that COOL advances legitimate values, including consumer information and consumer choice. The Court of Appeals also explained that COOL labels can be seen as a sign that retailers ‘take pride in identifying the source of their products.’ NFU’s family farmer- and rancher-members certainly take pride in the products they produce, and I am glad that consumers will be able to continue to identify their products at retail as a result of today’s decision.”

Johnson is currently in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the World Farmers Organization’s fourth general assembly, where many of the speakers have discussed the need for farmers to connect more directly with consumers and be more transparent to enhance consumer confidence.

Johnson said NFU will remain engaged with its allies in the courtroom battles over COOL on behalf family farmers and consumers.

Busting Myths About COOL

December 18, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The huge, multi-national packers and processors and their apologists at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association continue to spread disinformation about Country of Origin Labeling (COOL).

Since the USDA issued its newer, World Trade Organization-compliant COOL requirement here in the U.S., several allies of the industrial livestock industry led by Canada and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. have filed suit to stop COOL. They are also working behind the scenes in Congress at every opportunity – and further muddying the waters in Farm Bill negotiations – to rollback COOL.

The National and Ohio Farmers Unions support COOL and Americans’ right to know from where their center of their plate originates. The fact is, U.S. food safety standards from farm to grocery store shelf instill confidence in American consumers. We have the right to know if our meat was processed or raised in China or another country where regulations are weak. Many consumers also want to make the economic choice to buy only U.S. raised and processed foods. Without COOL, they are missing an important decision-making tool.

Here are a few facts about COOL that counter some of the arguments being made in opponents’ anti-consumer (and anti-American) campaign:

The U.S. never conceded to the WTO before being directed to do so by a dispute panel.
Changing COOL at this time in the middle of a court case would be letting Canada tell us whether or not U.S. laws are WTO compliant. Sovereignty anyone?

[Read more…]

Consumer Orgs to Congress: Hands Off COOL in Farm Bill

November 15, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

U.S. national consumer rights and protection groups have sent a letter to Farm Bill conference committee members in Congress urging them to defend Country of Origin Labeling rules and to beat back attempts by big business to change COOL.

“We appreciate the support of our allied organizations named in the letter,” said National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson. “Consumers have called for the information provided by COOL for some time and it is our responsibility as an industry to meet those demands.”

The Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Food and Water Watch, National Consumers League, and Public Citizen signed the letter. The letter cites survey results released in May 2013 by the Consumer Federation of America that showed that 90 percent of Americans believe they have the right to know the country of origin of the fresh meat they purchase. A 2008 poll from Consumers Union found that that 95 percent of U.S. adults agreed that Country-of-Origin Labeling for products should always be available at the point of purchase.

Click this link to read the letter.

COOL Mythbusting

November 10, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from the National Farmers Union

There’s a lot of misinformation about COOL being spread by our packer- and processor-opponents. Below are the facts about COOL that you can use as talking points when talking with members of Congress, your friends and neighbors, or the media:

The United States has never conceded to the WTO before being directed to do so by a dispute panel.
Changing the COOL law at this time, in the middle of an appeal, would be letting Canada tell us whether or not our laws are WTO-compliant, raising a major sovereignty issue.
We should take a line from Canada – they fought the United States’ softwood lumber trade dispute for 24 years without giving in until WTO forced them to do so.
Repealing the COOL law would affect more than meat and poultry. COOL requirements apply to muscle cuts of beef, lamb, pork, goat and chicken; ground beef, ground lamb, ground pork, ground goat and ground chicken; farm-raised fish and shellfish; wild fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities (like fruits and vegetables); peanuts; ginseng, pecans and macadamia nuts.
[Read more…]

COOL Appeal Another Attempt to Block Consumers’ Right to Know

September 12, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement upon receiving confirmation that the American Meat Institute and other packer-producer organizations will appeal the denial of their preliminary injunction request in the Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) lawsuit:

“NFU, and our allied consumer and producer organizations, intervened at the District Court to protect the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) modified COOL regulation. The judge issued a very well reasoned opinion yesterday and, as a result, NFU will actively participate in the appeal process to defend the district court’s denial of the preliminary injunction motion.

“As we have said many times, the American consumer has a right to know where their meat is from and U.S. livestock producers are proud of what they produce. The new COOL rule issued by USDA in May significantly improves the information available to consumers by reducing confusion about the origins of meat products, and provides U.S. livestock producers the opportunity to differentiate their product.”

Court’s Ruling in COOL Injunction Positive Says NFU

September 11, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today denied plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction that, if granted, would have blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from implementing and enforcing its revised Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations until a lawsuit filed July 8 is concluded.

“The judge’s ruling to deny the injunction on COOL regulations continues to reinforce NFU’s positive position on COOL. We have long supported COOL and the consumer’s desire to know where their food comes from. We are pleased that the packer-producer organizations and foreign interests’ attempts to thwart COOL have been denied. We are committed to defending COOL and will continue to do so throughout this legal process.

[Read more…]

NFU working on preserving effective Country of Origin Labeling in wake of WTO Ruling

December 5, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from The National Farmers Union

WASHINGTON – The World Trade Organization has given the United States until May 23, 2013, to bring its Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) rules into compliance with a WTO ruling.

“NFU will continue to work with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the United States Trade Representative to ensure that new rules for COOL fit with the WTO’s ruling and with consumer demand for more information about the origins of their food,” said National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson.

The labeling law was passed as a part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and amended in 2008, requiring retailers to notify their customers of the source of certain foods. After COOL was implemented, Canada and Mexico filed a complaint against the United States’ law. A WTO ruling in June agreed in part with the complaint, stating that the way by which the law was implemented discriminated against imported meat products, but did not find fault with the law itself.

“NFU has a proud record of supporting COOL. We were instrumental in getting the COOL laws passed in 2002 and again in 2008 and will continue to support its implementation in a way that meets the requirements of the WTO.”

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, food imports have consistently increased since 1990.

“Consumers want and have the right to know from where their meat comes from. We will continue to vigorously defend the COOL law, which was upheld in June. Only the rules that were issued to implement COOL law are in question and can be adjusted.”

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Two Federal Courts Have Now Swatted Down Big Biz Attempts to Thwart COOL

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