FOOD LABELING in USA

[Guest guest]

> > >Farmers Union Scores Victory with Country-of-Origin Labeling Amendment

> > >

> > >WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 5, 2001) - National Farmers Union (NFU) cheered

> the

> > late-night, large-margin House passage of an amendment to the Farm

> Security

> > Act of 2001 by Reps. Mary Bono, R-Calif., and Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.,

> > requiring mandatory country-of-origin labeling for fruits and

vegetables.

> > >

> > > " Farmers Union has diligently led the charge for mandatory

> > country-of-origin labeling for all foods, " said NFU President Leland

> > Swenson. " We have fought tirelessly through many obstacles to achieve

this

> > victory for producers and consumers.

> > >

> > > " Consumers deserve the opportunity to know where their food comes from

> and

> > U.S. producers have earned the right to market their products under the

> > proud label of 'Made in the USA', " Swenson said.

> > >

> > >The amendment, which overwhelmingly passed 296 to 121, requires

labeling

> of

> > imported and domestically-produced produce at the retail level. The

> > amendment states that information may be provided " by means of a label,

> > stamp, mark, placard or other clear and visible sign on the perishable

> > agricultural commodity or on the package, display, holding unit or bin

> > containing the commodity at the final point of sale to consumers. "

> > Violations are punishable by fines.

> > >

> > > " The challenge remains to maintain the original language and

incorporate

> > labeling for meat products as it moves through the House and Senate

> > legislative process, " Swenson said. " NFU will continue its pursuit of

> > mandatory country-of-origin labeling of all foods as the farm bill

> > discussions continue. "

> > >

> > >The farm bill, H.R. 2646, is expected to pass the House today,

increasing

> > the pressure on the Senate to mark up its version of farm policy.

> > >

> > >-30-

> > >www.nfu.org