October, 1998

Country-of-origin labeling for produce killed by Congress

Country-of-origin labeling won't happen this year in the produce industry.
House-Senate conferees, working on the final version of the agricultural appropriations, killed the country-of-origin provision attached to the bill. Instead the General Accounting Office is directed to conduct a study of the issue.
The GAO will investigate the effect of mandatory labeling requirements on importers, producers, consumers and retailers. It will also look at other nations using the country-of-origin labeling and see how it is done there. The final report is due six months after the ag appropriation bill passes.
Retailers and importers fought against the labeling provision, but Florida and other regions tried to get it passed. They want the labels to show consumers where the produce originated.
Florida and other regions fought for the measure that would require retailers to label produce to show consumers the country where the produce originated. Ray Gilmer, director of the communications and education for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association said they won't give up and weren't looking for a study.
Rep. Bob Smith, R-Ore., chairman of the House Agricultural Committee, and Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, worked to kill the provision that was sponsored by Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla.
The Food Marketing Institute and National Grocers Association lobbied against the legislation. They said it would be expensive to provide information to consumers that they really didn't want to know anyway. Retailers said that there are hundreds of items in the produce department and store clerks couldn't track where each one came from.
Canada and many European countries have country-of-origin labeling laws.