Key provisions
Supplemental ad hoc assistance in 1999 and 2000 provided additional insurance subsidies.
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Country-of-origin labeling
Requires retailers to inform consumers of the country of origin at the final point of sale for covered commodities. Food-service establishments are exempted.
The Secretary is required to issue guidelines for voluntary country-of-origin labeling by September 30, 2002. The Secretary is required to promulgate mandatory regulations by September 30, 2004.
Current Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulations allow voluntary labeling of fresh beef products using terms such as "U.S.A. Beef," and "Fresh American Beef" (products born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S.), or "Product of the U.S.A." (products that, at a minimum, have been prepared in the U.S.).
For covered meat to have a U.S. country-of-origin label, it must be exclusively from an animal that is born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S.
Provides new seafood labeling responsibilities to USDA, while all other seafood labeling responsibilities remain with the Food and Drug Administration. The label must distinguish between farm-raised and wild-harvest seafood products.
FSIS regulations on voluntary labeling require that all such geographic claims be substantiated before label approval through records documenting adherence to a producer's operational protocol, and through testimonials and affidavits.
The Secretary "shall not use a mandatory identification system to verify the country of origin..." but may use " as a model certification programs in existence."
Organic agriculture
for more information, contact: Farm policy team web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov page updated: June 17, 2002