Conaway criticizes Stabenow COOL bill, NFU praises it
June 24, 2015 |02:33 PM
Within an hour of the release of a bill by Senate Agriculture Committee ranking Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., to address the World Trade Organization decision on the U.S. program of country-of origin labeling for beef and pork, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway, R-Texas, criticized it, while the National Farmers Union, one of the strongest advocates for labeling, praised it.
Conaway said Stabenow’s proposal calling for voluntary country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork contradicts the House-passed bill which would repeal COOL for beef, pork and chicken.
A press release from Conaway said the Senate legislation "leaves in place several of these burdensome mandatory labeling requirements."
“Any conversation about a voluntary program must be preceded by a full repeal of COOL, as we have an obligation to our trading partners to come into compliance,” he said.
“Earlier this month, an overwhelming majority of 300 House members supported H.R. 2393, a bill that not only brings us into compliance with our trade commitments and avoids harmful retaliation; it also ensures stability in the marketplace and offers relief from burdensome compliance costs through the repeal of mandatory labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken,” Conaway said.
“These labeling requirements are costly for producers, burdensome for the entire supply chain, and provide no quantifiable benefits for consumers,” he said.
“By leaving in place a host of federally mandated requirements, Sen. Stabenow’s bill still creates unnecessary compliance costs and prolongs this failed experiment. After four World Trade Organization rulings against the U.S. for mandatory COOL, it is time to abandon this program and ensure certainty in the marketplace.”
NFU President Roger Johnson applauded Stabenow’s efforts.
“NFU has always fought for and deeply believes in mandatory COOL because it is in the best interest of both producers and consumers,” Johnson said.
“We also recognize that Congress has faced tremendous pressure to cave into Canada and Mexico’s demands, even though there are likely several months of the WTO process remaining.”
Johnson called a voluntary approach for beef and pork “a prescriptive solution to a very narrow problem.”
“Despite strong public support for food labeling, some members of Congress are eager to repeal this law. NFU vehemently opposes repeal,” said Johnson.
“We thank Sen. Stabenow for her leadership and insight on this issue,” he said.
“While NFU is not pleased that Congress is intervening in the WTO process, this approach is much improved from the House bill that would repeal COOL even beyond the scope of the WTO dispute.”
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., earlier welcomed the Stabenow bill, but also sent out a compilation of statements from groups advocating repeal.
Conaway said Stabenow’s proposal calling for voluntary country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork contradicts the House-passed bill which would repeal COOL for beef, pork and chicken.
A press release from Conaway said the Senate legislation "leaves in place several of these burdensome mandatory labeling requirements."
“Any conversation about a voluntary program must be preceded by a full repeal of COOL, as we have an obligation to our trading partners to come into compliance,” he said.
“Earlier this month, an overwhelming majority of 300 House members supported H.R. 2393, a bill that not only brings us into compliance with our trade commitments and avoids harmful retaliation; it also ensures stability in the marketplace and offers relief from burdensome compliance costs through the repeal of mandatory labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken,” Conaway said.
“These labeling requirements are costly for producers, burdensome for the entire supply chain, and provide no quantifiable benefits for consumers,” he said.
“By leaving in place a host of federally mandated requirements, Sen. Stabenow’s bill still creates unnecessary compliance costs and prolongs this failed experiment. After four World Trade Organization rulings against the U.S. for mandatory COOL, it is time to abandon this program and ensure certainty in the marketplace.”
NFU President Roger Johnson applauded Stabenow’s efforts.
“NFU has always fought for and deeply believes in mandatory COOL because it is in the best interest of both producers and consumers,” Johnson said.
“We also recognize that Congress has faced tremendous pressure to cave into Canada and Mexico’s demands, even though there are likely several months of the WTO process remaining.”
Johnson called a voluntary approach for beef and pork “a prescriptive solution to a very narrow problem.”
“Despite strong public support for food labeling, some members of Congress are eager to repeal this law. NFU vehemently opposes repeal,” said Johnson.
“We thank Sen. Stabenow for her leadership and insight on this issue,” he said.
“While NFU is not pleased that Congress is intervening in the WTO process, this approach is much improved from the House bill that would repeal COOL even beyond the scope of the WTO dispute.”
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., earlier welcomed the Stabenow bill, but also sent out a compilation of statements from groups advocating repeal.
