Country- and state-of-origin labeling laws allow consumers to choose
food that originates within their state or country, thereby supporting
local or national producers. Progress on national labeling laws has
been slow. A country-of-origin labeling law for many food products was
finally passed as part of the 2002 Farm Bill, but full implementation
has been delayed until September 2006.
Some customers want country of origin labeling (COOL) for food so
they can support domestic farmers and producers, or because they want
to minimize the "food miles" their groceries travel. Others want COOL
out of concerns about pesticide and other residues on imported fruits
and vegetables, or mad cow disease.
While COOL labeling for food has been slow to implement on the federal level, states have implemented their own rules.
For an explanation of why states might want to pass country- or state-of-origin labeling rules, see Ask Dr. Dave - COOL
In the
meantime, states have taken the initiative to put in place their own
labeling laws. A 1979 Florida statute that requires country of origin
labeling of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and honey was the first in
the U.S. Many states require all meat retailers to clearly label
imported meat with the country of origin, including Wyoming, Kansas,
North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana.
Studies show that consumers overwhelmingly favor country-of-origin
labeling (such as the 1996 national study by Charlton Research Company
of San Francisco, which showed that 74 percent support the labeling for
fresh produce). Many growers feel this logic can be extended to
state-of-origin. Indeed, country- and state-of-origin labeling may be a
first step towards relocalizing our food supply.
State-of-origin
labeling allows consumers to support their state's agricultural
economy. The Florida law allows "Produced in Florida" labels, as do
laws in South Dakota and Minnesota among others. California has a law,
similar to place-of-origin laws in European countries, that regulates
the content of wines labeled with Napa Valley place names.
Some
laws are primarily focused on food safety. A Maine labeling law passed
in 1989 requires country of origin labeling of any produce imported
from countries with pesticide standards lower than the U.S regulations.
More Information:
- State-Of-Origin Labeling - Minnesota Grown
This
program is a partnership between the Minnesota Department of
Agriculture and the growers and processors who provide quality
Minnesota Grown products. It was initiated in the 1980's by fruit and
vegetable growers. Since then, it has grown continually. The foundation
of the program includes an annual grower license to use the trademarked
Minnesota Grown logo.
To protect its citizens from deceptive advertising, the state of
Vermont implemented a law in 2008 that says that labels like "local"
and "locally grown" may be applied only to food and other goods that
originate in Vermont or within 30 miles of where they are being sold.
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This statute, enacted in 2000, is not being enforced until legal challenges are completed.
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September 1, 2000 is the date the first stage of a new system for the
identification and registration of beef and beef products in the
European Union (EU) went into effect. As of that date, member states
have to indicate on the label, down to the retail level, the country of
slaughter, country of cutting/deboning, the reference code of the
animal and its category. This requirement is also applicable to minced
beef. Labels must read: "Slaughtered in (name of the Member State or
third country) (approval number)".
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The Montana Country-of-Origin Labeling Act passed in 2005, folowing two
previous unsuccessful attempts to pass such a bill. It requires meat
sold in Montana to be clearly labeled with its country of origin
beginning in September 2006. It also allows Montana farmers and
ranchers to label their products "Made in Montana".
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Effective July 1, 2002, Mississippi State Senate Bill 2367 will go into
effect mandating "Country of Origin" labeling on beef products sold in
retail stores. The labeling will provide three distinctions for
labeling retail beef products: "American," "Imported," and "Blend." The
American labeling specifically identifies beef from the United States.
The labeling will only affect retail grocers and not food service
sectors.
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The original Maine country-of-origin law passed in 1989 and required
labeling of fresh produce "in order to protect the health, safety and
welfare of Maine citizens from the dangers of pesticides used or
applied in a manner or at a rate disallowed in the United States".
Changes to the law in 1999 now requires country-of-origin labeling of
all foreign produce packed in the state.
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The Idaho labeling statute requires all foreign meat, poultry, eggs and
butter to be marked with the country of origin. While the law has been
on the books since 1965, it is currently not enforced by the Idaho
Department of Agriculture. They cite a shortage of state funds and
interstate commerce concerns.
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Florida Statutes
TITLE XXXIII - Regulation Of Trade, Commerce, Investments, And Solicitations
Chapter 504 Specialized Agricultural Product Labeling
Part I: Produce
Part II: Organic Farming And Food
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On May 13, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002, more commonly known as the 2002 Farm
Bill. The new law required country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef,
lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities and peanuts.
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