093_SR0170

                                     LRB093 12051 RAH 16756 r

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Mandatory country of origin  labeling  for  beef
 3    and pork allows consumers to make a distinction between these
 4    products  derived  from  animals exclusively born, raised and
 5    slaughtered  in  the  United  States  and  similar   imported
 6    products;  this differentiation will also enable consumers to
 7    exercise their option to choose between  purchasing  domestic
 8    or imported products; and

 9        WHEREAS,  The United States Department of Agriculture may
10    promulgate rules that will place an undue  burden  on  United
11    States   cattle  and  swine  producers  and  add  unnecessary
12    complexity to the logistical process  of  labeling  beef  and
13    pork products with their country of origin; and

14        WHEREAS,  Because  no live animal processed in the United
15    States may be  disqualified  from  the  United  States  label
16    unless  it has been imported from another country, the United
17    States Department of Agriculture should design a system  that
18    requires  all handlers of imported cattle and swine to retain
19    the animal's import  documentation  throughout  the  animal's
20    life; handlers of imported cattle and swine should further be
21    required  to  disclose and transfer the animal's accompanying
22    import documentation to each buyer; and

23        WHEREAS, The  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture
24    should  define  the  lack of import documentation as proof of
25    exclusive domestic origin; and

26        WHEREAS, Under  this  proposal,  no  new  record  keeping
27    system  would  be necessary to accurately identify cattle and
28    swine eligible for the United States label; in addition,  the
29    proposal would require only the retention of existing records
30    kept  on  imported cattle and swine in order to determine the
31    proper origin of beef and pork derived from  imported  cattle
32    and swine; and
 
                            -2-      LRB093 12051 RAH 16756 r
 1        WHEREAS,  The  United  States  Department  of Agriculture
 2    should  consider  existing   meat   segregation   models   as
 3    recommended  by  the  United  States Congress to maintain the
 4    proper label on all imported cattle,  swine  and  other  meat
 5    processed   by   United   States   meat  packing  plants  and
 6    distributed to United States retailers; and

 7        WHEREAS, Requiring labeling on all  meats  and  livestock
 8    that  enter  this country would eliminate the need for costly
 9    and  unnecessary  records  by  United  States  producers   to
10    individually identify domestically produced livestock; and

11        WHEREAS, Too many unrealistic and unnecessary regulations
12    could  create  more  of  a  burden  than a benefit for United
13    States  livestock  producers;  such  an   action   would   be
14    detrimental  to  the  Illinois  agricultural  industry and to
15    United States consumers who want to  purchase  United  States
16    beef and pork; therefore, be it

17        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
18    ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we  urge  the  United
19    States  Department of Agriculture to work to capture both the
20    Congressional spirit  and  intent  of  mandatory  country  of
21    origin  labeling  through  the  promulgation  of  rules  that
22    maximize   benefits  to  both  United  States  producers  and
23    consumers while minimizing costs  to  producers,  processors,
24    and retailers; and be it further

25        RESOLVED,  That  a copy of this resolution be sent to the
26    Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, the
27    Agricultural  Marketing  Service   of   the   United   States
28    Department  of  Agriculture,  and each member of the Illinois
29    congressional delegation.