FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: David Thews, 202-554-1600
dthews@nfudc.org

WASHINGTON (June 30, 2014) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response to renewed efforts by opponents of Country-of-origin labeling (COOL) to repeal the consumer labeling requirements:

“The World Trade Organization’s report on COOL’s compliance with trade obligations has reportedly been transmitted to the U.S. government but not yet been made available to the public. Despite that fact, the multinational meatpackers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are pushing to repeal COOL without knowing the full findings of the WTO compliance study. Urging Congress to repeal COOL laws before the WTO report is issued is just another desperate attempt to prevent consumers from having access to basic information about their food.

“NFU eagerly awaits the WTO report and will recommend a response if necessary. Consumers have a right to know where their food comes from and our family farmer and rancher members agree. The WTO has already ruled that the U.S. COOL law is acceptable. There are many policy or regulatory options – if any are needed – that can be adopted in order to comply, although NFU feels the current COOL regulations are WTO-compliant.”

National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

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