Prepared Statement of Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa Press Conference on Country of Origin Labeling

Prepared Statement of Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa
Press Conference on Country of Origin Labeling

     I want to thank my colleagues for taking time out of their schedules to take a stand for Country of Origin Labeling. We are all here because we believe that American consumers have a right to know the country of origin of the meat they are purchasing.
      I've heard the argument that country of origin doesn't really matter and that consumers shouldn't use that as criteria when purchasing meat. Well, if it's not important why in the world are two of our largest beef importers asking us for country of origin labeling?
      Japan is our largest export market and South Korea is our third largest. Both countries want Country of Origin Labeling information. Last year the United States exported approximately $2 billion dollars worth of beef to Japan and $700 million to South Korea. Japan and South Korea have asked the United States government for Country of Origin information.
      Japan has told our government the United States must guarantee, by September 1st of this year, that beef exported to Japan from the United States is born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States. By eliminating funding for country of origin labeling we are seemingly putting two of our largest exports markets at risk.
      It's hard to understand why we would do this, until you look a little deeper. The truth is that the packers are not at risk of losing the Japanese and South Korean markets because they can comply with the importers request through the voluntary Country of Origin program.
      That means the packers use Country of Origin to their benefit regarding the Japanese and South Korea marketplaces, but don't have to incur what they consider a cost and hassle in our domestic marketplace.
      So, if US consumers want to buy US labeled beef, they must go to Japan to purchase it. If it's good enough for the Japanese shouldn't it be good enough for US consumers? I think it's unfair that the packers get the benefit of the voluntary program, but aren't willing to implement the mandatory program for their US consumers.
      Congress needs to allow the process to go forward. USDA needs to promulgate the rule and then we can judge it. With so much riding on Country of Origin labeling it makes sense to let the process continue.