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R-CALF USA urges Congress to take action on M-COOL

The CEO of R-CALF USA says Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling is needed sooner rather than later.

Bill Bullard tells Brownfield, “About 80% of beef is produced by the four largest meatpackers that import large quantities of foreign beef, and they do not want that beef distinguished in the grocery stores. That’s why we need Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling.”

He says a mandatory standard would help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.

“It would require all beef sold in U.S. grocery stores to be labeled as to where the animal had been born, raised, and slaughtered.”

Bullard says he wants to see Congress take action.

“We have two bills introduced in Congress,” he said. “One in the Senate is the American Beef Labeling Act. We have another companion bill introduced in the House. We are working hard to include the mandatory provisions in the upcoming farm bill process.”

Congress repealed Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling in 2015 for beef and pork following a series of rulings from the World Trade Organization.

The USDA has implemented voluntary labeling guidelines, but Bullard says that’s just a starting point.

BILL BULLARD: