FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 26

92^ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2085L.01I

         Whereas, mandatory country of origin labeling for beef allows consumers to make a distinction between beef products derived from animals exclusively born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States and similar imported products. This differentiation will also enable consumers to exercise their option to choose between purchasing domestic or imported products; and

            Whereas, the United States Department of Agriculture may promulgate rules that will place an undue burden on United States cattle producers and add unnecessary complexity to the logistical process of labeling beef products with their country of origin; and

            Whereas, because no live animal processed in the United States may be disqualified from the United States label unless it has been imported from another country, the United States Department of Agriculture should design a system that requires all handlers of imported cattle to retain the animal's import documentation throughout the animal's life. Handlers of imported cattle should further be required to disclose and transfer the animal's accompanying import documentation to each buyer; and

            Whereas, the United States Department of Agriculture should define the lack of import documentation as proof of exclusive domestic origin; and

            Whereas, under this proposal, no new record keeping system would be necessary to accurately identify cattle eligible for the United States label. In addition, the proposal would require only the retention of existing records kept on imported cattle in order to determine the proper origin of beef derived from imported cattle; and

            Whereas, the United States Department of Agriculture should consider existing meat segregation models as recommended by Congress to maintain the proper label of all imported cattle and meat processed by United States meat packing plants and distributed to United States retailers; and

            Whereas, requiring labeling of all meats and livestock that enter this country would eliminate the need for costly and unnecessary records by United States producers to individually identify domestically produced livestock; and

            Whereas, too many unrealistic and unnecessary regulations could create more of a burden than a benefit for United States livestock producers. Such an action would be detrimental to Missouri's agricultural industry and to United States consumers who want to purchase United States beef:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-second General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, urge the United States Department of Agriculture to work to capture both the Congressional spirit and intent of mandatory country of origin labeling through the promulgation of rules that maximize benefits to both United States producers and consumers; and

            Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman.