Denigrating imported beef in the US?

The Cattlemen's Competitive Market Project unveiled a "USA RAISED BEEF Ask For It" logo and publicity campaign at the National Press Club recently, but the American Meat Institute then accused the CCMP and R-CALF USA, one of the group's stakeholder organizations, of pandering to unwarranted fears of imported beef.

 

Cattlemen's Competitive Market Project CCMP is a fund established by like-minded organizations to improve antitrust, realistic trade and promote USA Raised Beef, not just any beef. It helps all producers and all pro-producer organizations. Voluntary producer contributions support:

 

 

R-CALF USA, the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America, represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues. R-CALF USA, a national, non-profit organization, is dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA's membership consists primarily of cow-calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and feedlot owners. Its members - over 18,000 strong -- are located in 47 states, and the organization has over 60 local and state association affiliates, from both cattle and farm organizations.

 

Various main street businesses are associate members of R-CALF USA.

AMI represents meat processors. It announced that the cattlemen's newly-launched program "got two things right: it's voluntary and the costs of the program are paid for by those who champion it." However, it called the campaign "an anti-trade initiative that reflects R-CALF's ongoing beef with imports." To suggest that USDA is permitting "cheap" and "unsafe" beef into the U.S. is patently false and misleading to consumers, AMI said.The cattlemen said their initiative, which has attracted some retailers in the upper Midwest , "is designed to increase consumer awareness and to encourage consumers to ask for USA Raised Beef at the point of sale. By educating consumers, and soliciting their involvement, country-of-origin labeling will be given the importance it deserves."

 

John Lockie, executive director of the Montana Cattlemen's Association, told the news conference that campaign organizers "want to make the connection with mandatory country-of-origin labeling COOL." He drew attention to the fact that the Montana legislature had recently passed a mandatory COOL bill. Danni Beer, chair of the R-CALF USA COOL committee, said, "We need consumers demanding more than the USDA seal." COOL is theoretically in place, "you hardly ever see it," she added. It is voluntary as yet.

 

In early June, The House of Representatives approved a fiscal 2006 USDA appropriations bill containing a provision that would delay mandatory country-of-origin labeling COOL for meat beyond the current Sept. 30, 2006 deadline. Introduced in may 2005 by Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-Texas), chairman of the Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, the provision would prohibit the USDA from spending fiscal 2006 funds on implementing regulations for mandatory COOL for meat.

 

 

 

However, the COOL delay faces a more difficult path in the Senate, where bipartisan support for the mandatory program remains strong.

For more on the global traceability situation, read "Food and Livestock Traceability" www.trackingfood.com