WASHINGTON (Aug. 1, 2002) – National Farmers Union is encouraging farmers and ranchers to submit comments to the Department of Agriculture on voluntary country-of-origin labeling guidelines by USDA’s Aug. 9 deadline.

USDA is seeking public comments on structuring voluntary country-of-origin labeling guidelines mandated by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The law requires retailers to inform consumers, at the final point of sale, of the country of origin of certain commodities. The covered commodities include: beef, lamb, pork, fish, peanuts, and fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables.

"While Farmers Union was successful in getting country-of-origin labeling enacted into law, we must continue the fight to ensure that it is implemented according to the language in 2002 farm bill," said NFU President Dave Frederickson. "Specifically, the law requires that for a covered commodity to receive a U.S. label, the product must be ‘born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S.’ or ‘grown and processed in the U.S.’ This requirement is important to our domestic agriculture producers, and we encourage farmers and ranchers to relay its importance to USDA."

The new farm law requires mandatory country-of-origin labeling beginning Sept. 30, 2004.

According to law, during a two-year transition period that begins Sept. 30, 2002, retailers may voluntarily provide country-of-origin labels. USDA is seeking written information and comments that will assist in the development of the voluntary country-of-origin labeling guidelines.

"The guidelines USDA issues regarding the voluntary country-of-origin labeling program are significant," Frederickson said. "These guidelines may apply as precedent to the structure and development of the mandatory guidelines. Therefore, it is important that USDA hears from farmers and ranchers concerning their views on establishing effective guidelines for country-of-origin labeling."

All information must be in written format and submitted before the Aug. 9, 2002, deadline to:

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Room 2085-S, Mail Stop 0299, 1400 Independence Avenue. SW, Washington DC 20250-0299; faxed to (202) 720-3499; or e-mailed to: cool@usda.gov. According to Frederickson, comments may also be sent via the National Farmers Union Web site, http://www.nfu.org./

-30-

www.nfu.org