PRESS RELEASE
FROM: INDEPENDENT CATTLEMEN OF NEBRASKA, Box 241, Hyannis, NE
69350
Media Contact: Terry Rothwell (308) 458-2758 trothwell@bbcwb.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 11,
2007
Country of Origin Labeling and Mandatory ID NOT Linked
(Hyannis, NE) – The Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) board
of directors has learned recently that cattle producers are being contacted
by various entities trying to link Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)
and a National mandatory ID program.
“Nothing could be farther from the truth” said John O’Dea,
region 5 director and chairman of the Animal Health Committee. “What
we are seeing is a last gasp attempt by COOL opponents to derail the
program by linking it to a wildly unpopular National ID program. COOL
and ID are two distinct and different programs, and in fact, the COOL
law prohibits using a National ID program for purposes of establishing
origin.”
USDA is still in the rulemaking process for COOL, having just closed
a public comment period. If the amendments to COOL offered in the House
version of the Farm Bill are upheld through the Senate, the mandated
requirements for verifying origin will be limited to those already used
in the course of normal business practices.
Jim Hanna, Chairman of the ICON Marketing Committee had these comments:
“Don’t let anyone mislead you into believing you have to sign
up, pay for and use their electronic ear tag and database program in
order to sell cattle that will qualify as U.S. born and raised. If the
compromise amendments to the COOL law hold up, something as simple as
a calving record book or verification of a first and last calving date
and location will suffice. The threat of reduced return for un-tagged
cattle is a hollow one as well. Tagged and un-tagged cattle have been
selling this summer side by side with no observed premiums or discounts
either way.”
ICON asks any producer who receives communication from a sale barn,
vet, tag vendors, “industry” organizations or anyone else
making claims about COOL and mandatory ID to contact our office (Terry
Rothwell 308-458-2758) and let us know.