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Press Release: USA 001 - June 19, 2003
Stopping COOL funding
would devastate the US beef industry
SARASOTA FL - The
House subcommittee on agriculture appropriations
voted to stop funding for mandatory
country-of-origin labeling and its implementation
for a year. Rep. Bonilla (R-TX) authored the
amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations
Subcommittee Bill. The amendment only affects beef
and other meats, but keeps COOL provisions in
place for all other food items.
The timing of such an action is puzzling, in the
last year BSE or Mad-Cow has made it’s way into
the North American food chain, causing millions of
dollars in losses, which a labeling and tracking
system could have prevented. In the United States,
the FDA has ordered a Labeling Law for all food
entering this country. In just the last week both
Japan and Korea have implemented mandatory Country
of Origin Labeling laws for all beef imports. In
the United States, the FDA has ordered a Labeling
Law for all food entering this country. The COOL
program seems to be needed now more than ever if
the United States beef industry is to compete in
foreign markets. Even Rep. Bonilla once stated,
“This funding will keep our nation’s agriculture
industry strong. It will keep our food safe. And
it will keep our nation prepared.” Yet, Rep.
Bonilla now feels differently.
At the heart of the argument against COOL is not
consumer awareness or food safety, but is the cost
to packers and producer groups who have a powerful
lobby in Washington. What is not being added into
the cost benefit analysis is the loss the beef and
meat industry will lose in sales to foreign
markets that require Country of Origin Labeling.
The agribusiness PAC “donated” $250,414 to Rep.
Bonilla’s re-election campaign, and groups like
the packers and processors who are against the
COOL program are part of that powerful PAC.
The anti-COOL groups feel the cost and time of
implementing the Country of Origin Labeling
provisions are too high and would not be cost
effective. Although ScoringSysytem, Inc., based in
Sarasota Florida can manage their records for
around a penny a package at the consumer level.
ScoringSystem, Inc. developed the only secure
web-based application that can track the entire
history of an animal to be in compliance with the
COOL laws. The infrastructure is in place and is
inexpensive to use. The process was created by
farmers, and developed by top engineering
professionals. It’s low-cost, ease of use, and
security will allow the beef and meat industry to
remain competitive in the world market, and give
consumers piece of mind knowing that their food is
safer with the COOL laws in effect.
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