COALITION APPLAUDS USDA DECISION TO WITHDRAW MEAT LABEL CLAIMS
The Sustainable Agriculture Coalition today commended USDA's Agricultural
Marketing Service for its decision to withdraw five proposed meat marketing
label claims from the rulemaking process in order to allow for more time to
review and solicit input from farmers affected by the claims. The production
standards withdrawn from the process are grass-fed, free-range, and breed
claims, as well as standards that address livestock raised without antibiotics
or supplemental hormones.
"USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has chosen to go back to the drawing
board on the writing of these labeling standards. Their decision is in response
to a flood of concern from farmers and consumers that the standards as written
would mislead consumers and undercut the market for value-added meat products
developed by innovative family farmers and ranchers," said Ann Wright,
Senior Policy Associate with the Coalition.
The deadline for public comments was March 31st. During the open comment period
thousands of producers and consumers registered concerns about the claims.
In a letter delivered to AMS on March 18, the Coalition joined with 10 other
groups -- including Organic Valley Family of Farms, Consumer Federation of
America, Union of Concerned Scientists, The Humane Society of the United States,
and Keep Antibiotics Working: The Campaign to End Antibiotic Overuse -- to
urge USDA to postpone finalizing controversial meat marketing standards. The
letter asked for a more extensive and inclusive process that would allow input
from family farm, consumer, humane, and environmental organizations and from
sustainable livestock producers themselves, especially those who have worked
hard to establish markets related to these label claims.
"Family farmers and ranchers who raise livestock using sustainable methods
and their growing base of consumers want a role in establishing the labeling
claims that directly affect their livelihoods and consumer preferences,"
said Wright. "We cannot allow these markets to be manipulated by the
conventional meat industry and we therefore look forward to working with AMS
to ensure that all voices are heard."
"The original proposal, now withdrawn, would have confused consumers
and farmers alike," added Wright. "Livestock fed grain could have
been marketed as grass-fed and meat from animals routinely fed antibiotics
could have borne labels suggesting the opposite. Consumer and producer interest
and confidence in these markets are growing and any USDA standard for a label
claim must ensure the integrity of the label."
The Coalition represents farm, rural, and conservation organizations that
advocate public policies supporting the long-term economic, social, and environmental
sustainability of agriculture, natural resources and rural communities.
The AMS announcement - "USDA to Seek Additional Input on Specific Livestock
and Meat Marketing Claims Standards" - can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/news/079-03.htm.