AMI Submits Testimony on Country-of-Origin Labeling Before Senate Subcommittee in Missouri

A voluntary, U.S. meat certification program is a far better alternative to a costly, burdensome, mandatory country-of-origin labeling program, according to AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. Boyle's comments are part of testimony submitted to a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Marketing, Inspection and Product Promotion held today in Joplin, MO.

Boyle noted that AMI and several other associations one year ago petitioned USDA to create a new, voluntary, fee for service U.S. beef certification program administered by AMS.

"Under this system, the market would provide for what country-of-origin proponents profess to be the case - that the American consumer will prefer and pay more for meat products from animals born and raised in the United States," he said. “Under this program, those who believe that to be true could enter the market with those products and, if the benefits outweigh the costs, succeed.”

He also said that contrary to proponents of country-of-origin labeling, this is not a consumer right-to-know issue, because it applies only to food purchased at retail (not at foodservice) and to some red meat products (not poultry), fruits and vegetables and peanuts (not walnuts, almonds or any other nut).

To view the testimony, visit: http://www.meatami.com/Template.cfm?Section=Country-of-OriginLabeling&NavMenuID=171&template=TaggedContentFile.cfm&NewsID=671 .

To view AMI’s press release, visit: http://www.meatami.com/Template.cfm?Section=Current&NavMenuID=274&template=PressReleaseDisplay.cfm&PressReleaseID=1528 .