The U.S. Department of Agriculture's interim voluntary country of origin labeling guidelines provide a good foundation for the development of a market-driven country of origin labeling program, according to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA).

"We believe these interim guidelines are a good start towards addressing some of the complexities surrounding this issue. The USDA should be commended for proposing the guidelines and for allowing a 180 day reaction and comment period. This process allows various audiences in our industry to assess mandatory COL labeling before it goes into effect in September 2004," says Bryan Dierlam, NCBA's director of Legislative Affairs.

Under the guidelines, fresh and frozen muscle cuts of beef may be labeled at retail to indicate their country of origin. The guidelines provide uniform criteria for participating retailers. A retailer can label a commodity with "United States Country of Origin" if certain criteria are met.

"We understand that there will be a cost associated with compliance of the labeling guidelines and we certainly don't want to inflict undue costs on the industry," says Wythe Willey, Iowa producer and NCBA president. "But if the consumer decides they find country-of-origin information valuable, and they're willing to pay the extra cost for U.S.-labeled beef, then that information should be provided."

For beef, the covered commodities must be derived exclusively from animals born, raised and processed in the U.S., including animals that were born and raised in Alaska or Hawaii and transported for a period not to exceed 60 days through Canada to the U.S. and processed in the U.S., said the USDA guidelines. In April 2003, officials will begin developing the plan for mandatory labeling, based on input from the voluntary program.

"It is important to remember that these are voluntary guidelines, and there is opportunity for all parties to comment on how to improve and modify this system before the mandatory guidelines are developed. We can get a sense of the success of the program, and then give suggestions to the USDA on how these guidelines could improve, before the program becomes mandatory," says Dierlam. ©