031124 Pork Council Favors "Country of Origin"

Washington - The North Carolina Pork Producers Council Inc., which represents the second largest pork producing state in the nation, has voted to reverse its position and join the Iowa Pork Producers Association in favor of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) of pork. In addition, Smithfield Foods, one of the nation's largest meat processors, has broken ranks with other processors and now supports COOL.

The North Carolina and Smithfield decisions are likely to have major impacts on the battle in Congress over a 2002 farm bill provision requiring mandatory labeling of red meat seafood, peanuts and fresh fruits and vegetables at the final point of retail sale by Sept. 30, 2004. The House version of the FY04 Agriculture Appropriations bill contains a provision that would stop implementation of the program for red meat through fiscal year 2004. Last week the Senate voted 58 to 36 to instruct conferees on the FY04 Agriculture Appropriations bill not to go along with the House provision to stop implementation.

The North Carolina Pork Producers' decision leaves the National Pork Producers Council opposed to labeling, but its two largest state affiliates in favor of it. The North Carolina Pork Producers Council reversed its opposition in a special telephone board meeting a few days before the Senate vote, according to J. Randolph Carpenter, executive director of the North Carolina group. Carpenter told DTN, "The basic fundamental reason that was articulated by the majority was the implementation of the COOL would have a positive impact on domestic hog prices in the U.S. and that it was appropriate to take advantage of that opportunity." A pork industry source said former Sen. Lauch Faircloth, R-N.C., was a key figure in the North Carolina group's reversal and that Faircloth had been contacting his former colleagues. Carpenter acknowledged Faircloth was involved, but referred calls to his office. Faircloth did not return a call seeking comment.

The National Pork Producers Council issued a vigorous press release after the Nov. 6 vote, saying the resolution "will not deter America's pork producers from continuing to voice their concerns about the unintended economic consequences of the law."

National Pork President Jon Capers, a producer from Swaledale, Iowa, said, "The Senate clearly was swayed by flawed arguments masquerading as concerns for American consumers. In reality, consumers are being sold a bill of goods that country-of-origin labeling will somehow provide them with assurances of safe food. If this law was really designed to provide consumers with information on the meat they purchase, then why exempt poultry, food service and processed meat products? How come I can find out where my pork products came from at the grocery store but not at the McDonald's restaurant down the street?"

Caspers added, "Congress is still divided on the issue of MCOOL [mandatory COOL], with the House squarely against the law and the Senate in favor," he said. "Pork producers will be working with the conference committee, which is composed of House and Senate conferees, to resolve differences on this burdensome legislation and find a solution that doesn't hurt our livelihoods."

But Audrey Adamson, the national pork group's director of governmental affairs, acknowledged to DTN that it was the North Carolina group that put forward the resolution in opposition to labeling at last year's national convention and that it is "possible" the national group will face another vote this year. "We follow what the pork delegates vote for," Adamson said.

Meanwhile, Smithfield Foods, a major meat processor with operations in North Carolina, is not opposing COOL even though the American Meat Institute continues to oppose it, Succesful Farming reported Tuesday. The farm magazine also noted that Smithfield CEO Joseph Luter III had told investors in a conference call on August 21 that he "philosophically" disagrees with labeling but that he believes the law should go into effect because, "There's no question in my mind it will help hog prices in this country." Luter also noted that Canada, which opposes the U.S. labeling law, has a labeling law. "The result has been we have not been able to ship fresh pork into Canada because it has to be labeled as imported rather than product of Canada," Luter said. "The Canadian consumer, no question, discriminates against product that does not come from Canada."

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