Coalition Working To Bring Back Country Of Origin Labeling In State

The Montana COOL Coalition is urging the Senate Ag Committee to reinstate mandatory Country Of Origin Labeling. According to the coalition, the Farm Bill mark up is anticipated to take place between July 13 and Aug. 7.

“The U.S. Senate has a genuine opportunity to provide U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers the opportunity to compete in their domestic market and consumers the right to choose from where they want their beef produced,” R-Calf U.S.A. CEO and MT COOL Coalition Leader Bill Bullard said in a press release. “Including mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef in the Senate Farm Bill will accomplish these important objectives and we urge the Senate to put America’s farmers, ranchers and consumers first by enacting this widely supported, common sense initiative.”

According to a press release from the coalition, Montana has lost 25 percent of the state’s family ranches since the repeal of MCOOL in 2015.

Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) introduced the Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act to reinstate MCOOL last year. She proposed that her bill be included as an amendment during the House Farm Bill mark up process. The amendment, however, wasn’t included in the mark up.

“Our family-owned ranches and rural communities operate under thin margins,” Montana State Senator Butch Gillespie said in a press release. “Today, most any product we use is labeled, and MCOOL for beef could be beneficial since we produce such a great product right here in Montana.”

Montana Cattlemen’s Association member Ken Morris is one of the strong proponents of MCOOL. He stresses that beef from U.S. cattle must meet tougher standards than beef from other countries.

“These facts need to be shown through truthful origin labeling on all beef that U.S. consumers purchase,” Morris said in a pres release.