FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VOLUNTARY COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELING BILL MEETS CONSUMER AND INDUSTRY NEEDS
Contact:
Scott Openshaw, Director, Communications, 202-295-3957
Brian Kennedy, Director, Communications, 202-639-5994
Washington, DC, June 16, 2004 – The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) today voiced its support for the introduction of legislation to establish voluntary country-of-origin labeling (COOL).
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Minority Member Charles Stenholm (D-Texas) introduced the Food Promotion Act of 2004 yesterday. The bill will amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish standards for the voluntary labeling of produce, meat (including beef, pork, veal, lamb) and seafood with country-of-origin information. The intent of these labels is to inform consumers and to allow them to choose American products at their supermarkets more easily.
"GMA has long supported establishing voluntary country-of-origin labeling standards," said GMA Vice President of Federal Affairs Susan Stout. "Most importantly, this legislation will create workable COOL standards that inform consumers of the choices available to them and that allow producers to label country-of-origin in the most efficient way possible."
In addition to GMA, the Food Promotion Act of 2004 is supported by 324 other groups representing food producers, retailers and manufacturers. To learn more about voluntary COOL, visit: www.countryoforiginlabel.org.
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The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) represents the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. The Association promotes sound public policy, champions initiatives that increase productivity and growth and helps ensure the safety and security of consumer packaged goods through scientific excellence. The GMA board of directors is comprised of chief executive officers from the Association’s member companies. The $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry employs 14 million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in added value to the nation’s economy. For more information, visit the GMA Web site at www.gmaonline.org
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