02/05/08 Labeling Seafood

Labeling Seafood. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Oregon is below the national average when it comes to compliance with mandatory country of origin labeling for seafood. But that doesn't alarm state officials. It just makes them more determined to help retailers do better. Only about half of Oregon retailers audited for compliance are following the law that requires country of origin labeling for seafood. But it appears non-compliance has nothing to do with retailers trying to defy the law, says Oregon Department of Agriculture Assistant Director Dalton Hobbs. HOBBS: Many of the establishments we contacted during the audit, were simply unaware of these requirements or had no knowledge of how to do it. As part of the audit, we were able to provide some very good outreach and very good information to these retail establishments. ODA conducted the 2007 audit on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Although the federal law allows for a 10-thousand dollar fine per violation should they be deemed as willful acts, there will be no enforcement action right now, just education of retailers. There were hopes that mandatory labeling would create more sales of domestic seafood, but that apparently is not the case. HOBBS: Anecdotally, we really honestly haven't heard that this has driven sales of one species or another. The marketplace, more often than not in terms of percentages, is going to vote with its pocketbook. Mandatory country of origin labeling for other commodities including beef, lamb, pork, fruits, and vegetables will follow later this year- all in response to consumers who want to know where their food comes from. Hobbs says just a little more than half of audited retailers are in compliance with federal mandatory country of origin labeling for seafood. He says it is not a case of trying to defy the law. Retailers just need to be more aware of the requirement and how to do it. HOBBS: About 53 percent of the facilities or establishments did have their seafood properly labeled as to its country of origin, 47 percent didn't. I think that really is the opportunity is to tell that story to these establishments and get them into a position where they can be in full compliance with this legislation. Hobbs says mandatory country of origin labeling is in response to consumers. HOBBS: Increasingly, people have requested more information about where their food comes from and how it is produced. In the case of seafood, it is now federal law that seafood is labeled as to its country of origin. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.