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.