05/23/05 Another effort to kill M-COOL

American Rancher May 23, 2005 Although its initial implementation was delayed, mandatory country of origin labeling for beef at retail is still scheduled to take effect in September of 2006. But the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee recently voted to again postpone implementation of mandatory COOL to September 2007. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley says this is more than an effort to delay. Grassley: "I think it would be intellectually dishonest for them to say that the two-year delay that was enacted in 2004 is anything other than opposition to the legislation. But you could make an argument it took a little longer to get it executed. But not any more can you say that. This is outright war as far as I am concerned on country of origin labeling." And Grassley says he still believes mandatory COOL has strong support in the Senate. R-CALF USA, a strong supporter of mandatory COOL calls the House subcommittee action an underhanded maneuver to not only attempt to completely do away with mandatory COOL , but it also denies consumers their right to know where the meat they serve their families actually comes from. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association opposes mandatory COOL and is supporting new legislation on a voluntary labeling program. I'm Bob Hoff.