The House Agriculture Committee approved a bill Thursday that would repeal a law requiring country-of-origin labels on meat sold in American grocery stores in favor of voluntary labels.
Food makers and some livestock groups have lobbied for months to repeal the law, which requires the labels to appear on packages of meat, seafood and fresh produce beginning in 2006.
Consumer and other grower groups contend the mandatory labels will give shoppers useful information and distinguish U.S.-grown food from competitors in retail stores.
Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, chairman of the House panel, said voluntary labels were preferable to avoid imposing new costs on foodmakers.
“The legislation we passed today will strike the onerous mandatory system and require the secretary of agriculture to establish in its place a rigorous voluntary program,” Goodlatte said after the committee vote.
The mandatory labels were originally required to be placed on red meat, seafood, produce and peanuts on Sept. 30. But Congress voted earlier this year to delay the starting date until 2006 for everything but fish.
It remains unclear whether repealing the law will occur this year.
The committee’s bill must go before the full House of Representatives for a vote.
No companion bill exists in the Senate, where there is more support for mandatory country-of-origin labels.
