November 7 , 2003

Contact:
Kara Flynn
(202) 347-3600, ext. 207
flynnk@nppc.org
Cellular: (202) 347-3600

DESPITE HIGH COSTS AND NO BENEFITS TO CONSUMERS, PRODUCERS MCOOL WINS SENATE APPROVAL

WASHINGTON, D.C.-November 7, 2003-A non-binding measure passed yesterday by the U.S. Senate voicing support for implementing mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for meat, will not deter America's pork producers from continuing to voice their concerns about the unintended economic consequences of the law, said NPPC President Jon Caspers.

"The Senate clearly was swayed by flawed arguments masquerading as concerns for American consumers," said Caspers, a pork producer from Swaledale, Iowa. "In reality, consumers are being sold a bill of goods that country-of-origin labeling will somehow provide them with assurances of safe food. If this law was really designed to provide consumers with information on the meat they purchase, then why exempt poultry, food service and processed meat products? How come I can find out where my pork products came from at the grocery store but not at the McDonald's restaurant down the street?"

Caspers said the Senate vote was a hollow victory for those advocating the consumer 'right to know' issue. "In the end, the costs of country-of-origin labeling are most certainly going to be passed on to consumers of fresh meats," he said. "And independent pork producers, the very people who are supposed to benefit from this law, will be faced with going out of business."

According to Caspers, yesterday's vote is not the end of the story. "Congress is still divided on the issue of MCOOL, with the House squarely against the law and the Senate in favor," he said. "Pork producers will be working with the conference committee, which is composed of House and Senate conferees, to resolve differences on this burdensome legislation and find a solution that doesn't hurt our livelihoods."

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is one of the nation’s largest livestock commodity organizations. It has producer members in 44 affiliated state associations and provides a unified voice for America’s pork producers on a wide range of industry and public policy issues. NPPC’s website is at www.nppc.org.

Home | About | Producers | Associations | Public Policy | Newsroom | Resources | Capital Update | Events | Join Email List | Site Map