AMI President J. Patrick Boyle Tackles Claims that BSE Case Justifies Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling

In an op-ed "Labels won't cure beef industry's BSE woes, " published today in the Tri-State Neighbor, American Meat Institute President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle challenges claims that a single case of BSE in the United States justifies mandatory county-of-origin labeling (COL).

Since Dec. 23, when the first case of BSE was announced in a cow in Washington state, Sens. Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) have argued for mandatory COL.

Boyle specifically referenced a comment by Sen. Johnson to a South Dakota newspaper that country-of-origin labeling "would be a powerful additional tool that would strengthen consumer confidence and strengthen our export markets and at the same time provide some additional information relative to tracking diseased animals." He also cited a joint letter by Johnson and Daschle, in which they said, "Our trading partners will reopen their borders to U.S. cattle and beef exports only if we demonstrate our commitment to fully address the problem, and only if we implement a meaningful country-of-origin labeling program."

"Although I know and respect both senators from South Dakota, I must respectfully disagree with their view of the facts - and with their assessment of the law's merits," Boyle wrote. "Country-of-origin labeling, as it is being mandated, will not track animals to herds of origin, as mandatory identification and traceback would. Unfortunately, country-of-origin labeling advocates have worked aggressively to suggest that country-of-origin labeling and animal identification are one and the same. Any suggestion that labels in grocery stores contribute to disease investigations on farms is misinformed."

Boyle continued that mandatory COL would do nothing to boost consumer confidence, as it has been at an all-time high throughout the BSE discovery and investigation, as is evidenced by numerous polls.

"Indeed, this costly mandate will have a decidedly negative impact on trade relations. Country-of-origin labeling advocates have made no secret of the fact that one of their primary motivators is blocking imported cattle and beef," he said.

The article can be viewed in its entirety at:
http://www.tristateneighbor.com/articles/2004/04/29/tri_state_news/columnists/news31.txt