[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 126 (Thursday, August 2, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FARM, NUTRITION, AND BIOENERGY ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. COLLIN C. PETERSON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2419) to 
     provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through 
     fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes:

  Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, the attached language was 
inadvertently omitted from H. Rept. 110-256, in regard to Country of 
Origin Labeling, to H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 
2007.


             Country of Origin Labeling for Meat Agreement

       The Committee recognizes that the issue of Country of 
     Origin Labeling for meat has become increasingly contentious. 
     With implementation of the statute enacted in the Farm 
     Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 looming, the 
     Committee leadership requested that representatives of the 
     various interested parties discuss opportunities to resolve 
     issues of division. These discussions resulted in general 
     agreement on aspects of the law which could be modified to 
     achieve the goals of: improving marketability of meat 
     products; providing consumers the information they may seek 
     with regard to the origin of meat products; and, doing so in 
     a manner which minimizes the cost of compliance on livestock 
     producers and the meat trade.
       During consideration of H.R. 2419, the Committee was 
     presented with a list of items that were agreed upon by the 
     various interested parties. The list included suggestions to 
     improve the statute with regard to issues including product 
     labels, records, and recordkeeping.
       With regard to product labeling, the Committee adopted 
     amendments to Section 281 of the Agricultural Marketing Act 
     of 1946 that would establish four categories of country of 
     origin labels for meat. The legislative language outlining 
     these categories is self-explanatory.
       Another area of concern was labeling of ground meat 
     products. The amendment adopted by the Committee provides 
     that the label will include a narrative list of reasonably 
     possible countries from which the product may have been 
     derived.
       While the Committee recognizes the interest in providing 
     consumers with information regarding the origin of their meat 
     products, the Committee also recognizes the potential cost 
     associated with complying with any label mandate. As such, 
     the Committee has adopted a grandfather provision to address 
     concerns about the transition.
       With regard to requirements for records and recordkeeping, 
     the Committee has adopted provisions that will enable less 
     burdensome verification requirements. Specifically, the 
     Committee has adopted an amendment that will place limits on 
     the authority of the United States Department of Agriculture 
     (USDA) to audit covered entities. To further shield all 
     parties from liability, the amendment limits the records upon 
     which these USDA audits may rely. By limiting these records 
     to those kept as part of a normal business practice, it is 
     the intent of the Committee that retailers and other 
     covered entities will not impose unnecessary or burdensome 
     obligations on their suppliers.
       The final item of agreement dealt with the issues of 
     liability and enforcement. The amendment adopted by the 
     Committee will limit the applicability of civil penalties to 
     a covered entity that has not made an effort to comply and 
     continues to willfully violate this section. The Committee 
     specifically intends that violations resulting from a good 
     faith effort to come into compliance shall not be subject to 
     civil penalties.

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