Cattlemen Back Voluntary Origin of Labeling

February 13, 2002

After extensive debate, policy to urge and advance market-driven country of origin labeling for beef was adopted during the 2002 Cattle Industry Annual Conference in Denver, CO. National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) chief economist Chuck Lambert said, "The resolution of the debate on the issue of country of origin labeling is evidence that producer directed policy development works. NCBA's members clearly indicated their desire to manage and control the labeling of beef ."

The International Markets Committee first adopted the policy. "NCBA's members clearly indicated their desire to manage and control the labeling of beef - an industry directed market driven approach to beef labeling is preferable to a government mandated system," Lambert said.

Several resolutions were offered in the International Markets Committee and extensively debated at the NCBA Board of Directors meeting and the Industry Stakeholders meeting. Substitute policy, including government directed and controlled, or mandatory country of origin labeling, was put before the Board of Directors and the industry stakeholders. The final vote was in support of a labeling policy that allowed producers and the industry to work together to give consumers the information they desire when purchasing beef.