June
16 , 2004
Number 55, Volume 2
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Progress Foundation, and People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
1. VOLUNTARY LABELING BILL INTRODUCED IN US HOUSE
As
we mentioned two weeks ago (see
item #2), animal agriculture groups and others are supporting a voluntary
version of the mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) program that
was required by the 2002 US Farm Bill. On June 15 the proposal was made
official when the US House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee
introduced the “Food Promotion Act of 2004,” which would do
away with the mandatory COOL provision. Proponents of the new bill say
a voluntary program will be much less burdensome to producers and will
still allow the use of labeling for marketing purposes. Opponents claim
the shift from a focus on food safety to product marketing will hurt consumers;
an official with the National Farmers Union (NFU) stated, “Voluntary
country-of-origin labeling has been an option for several years, but packers,
processors and retailers have refused to participate despite an overwhelming
majority of consumers wanting the information.” The new bill appears
to serve interests of the agriculture industry by ending the mandatory
COOL legislation without considering at least two current proposed amendments
to revise the mandatory provisions to be less burdensome to the industry.
Full text of the bill (PDF file): http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/vcool.pdf
“House Ag Committee Introduces Voluntary COOL Bill,” Meatingplace.com,
Eric Hanson, June 16, 2004
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/pop.asp?ID=12528
“Bipartisan Bill Would Make COOL Voluntary,” Agriculture Online,
Cheryl Rainford, June 15, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/3bepz (Agriculture.com
website)
2. PUBLIC OPINION SOUGHT ON US ANIMAL ID SYSTEM
The
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a series of “listening
sessions” throughout the country to discuss the implementation of
a national animal identification program for farmed animals. The sessions,
which are open to the public, will be held on various dates through the
end of August. A USDA administrator stated, “A national animal identification
program will help the government and industry more quickly control outbreaks
of a variety of animal diseases and reduce the economic impacts on the
market” (Also
see item #2). According to another USDA official addressing the World
Pork Expo on June 11, the animal ID system will begin by implementing
“premise identification” to be completed this summer, and
will later implement an electronic “traceback” system for
individual animals.
“USDA to Hold Listening Sessions on National Animal Identification
Program,” USDA Press Release, June 10, 2004
http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0236.04.html
“Animal ID is Silver Lining in BSE Cloud, says USDA's DeHaven,”
Agriculture.com, Betsy Freese, June 11, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/ys6u6
(Agriculture.com website)
3. BRAZIL QUICKLY BECOMING A MAJOR ANIMAL FARMING COUNTRY
Brazil
is rapidly becoming an animal farming powerhouse thanks to the country’s
inexpensive labor pool, large tracts of uninhabited land, and high-volume
soybean production. These advantages to producers have prompted Smithfield
Foods, the foremost US producer of pork products, to build a 2,500-acre,
$24 billion hog farm in Brazil, with another on the way. The existing
factory farm houses up to 150,000 pigs at a time. The farms are set back
from public roads and are miles from any neighbor in a deliberate effort
to avoid public complaints (which are common in the US for even much smaller
pig farming operations) about the pollution and odor generated by hog
farms, . Also, according to the National Chicken Council, Brazil has taken
away some of the US’s export market for chickens and turkey; the
US share of the “poultry” export market has dropped from 50%
to 37%, while Brazil’s share has grown to 31%.
“U.S. Venture Hints at Brazil's Hog Farm Potential,” Chicago
Tribune, Andrew Martin, June 14, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/yvs92
(Chicago Tribune website)
(Thanks to Paul Shapiro for sending us this story)
4. OBESITY SUMMIT ADDRESSES CAUSES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
In
early June, Time Magazine and ABC News hosted a “Summit on Obesity”
to address the US obesity epidemic and to share practices among industry
and government for slowing or reversing the trend. According to a summary
of the summit, participants generally agreed that obesity is a major problem,
that the focus for obesity prevention should be on children, and that
exercise must play a vital role. Not surprisingly, participants did not
agree on how to get Americans to eat healthier foods or on the role of
government to regulate consumer food choices. The summary article also
highlights a number of efforts currently implemented by both industry
and government to battle obesity. The summit included notable public health
groups and officials, including the US Department of Health and Human
Services, the US Federal Trade Commission, the Yale School of Public Health,
Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Andrew Weil, and a number of food producers, among
others. Many of the presentations are available on the web, see below.
“Lessons from the Summit (on Obesity)”, Time Magazine and
ABC News, Claudia Williams, June 5, 2004
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,646304,00.html
Conference presentations:
http://www.rwjf.org/news/eventDetail.jsp?id=1083787982803&contentGroup=webcast
“Animal Database to Help Detect Terrorism,” The Exponent,
Charise Pettit, June 16, 2004
Abstract: Perdue University Researchers are establishing a surveillance
system to monitor pets and farmed animals as possible early warning signs
for bioterrorism attacks.
http://tinyurl.com/2xq74
(Purdue Exponent website)
"First SARS Human Vaccine Trial under Way in China," Planet
Ark and Reuters, June 11, 2004
Abstract: China has begun the first human clinical trials of a vaccine
for SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Disease).
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/25484/story.htm
“New Kids' Video on Factory Farming,” Farm Sanctuary, June
15, 2004
Abstract: Farm Sanctuary has released a new video on factory farming that
is designed for humane education with children in grades 3-6.
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/media/pr_teach_video.htm
“PETA to Show Anti-Chicken TV Spot During World Meat Congress,”
Meatingplace.com, Eric Hanson, June 15, 2004
Abstract: This week PETA is running a 30-second pro-vegetarian TV commercial
in Winnipeg, Ontario, currently hosting the World Meat Congress.
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/pop.asp?ID=12521
Also see: http://www.peta.org/news/NewsItem.asp?id=4535
“Scholar Calls Enviro-Radicals' Antibiotic Warnings “’Junk
Science,’” Agape Press, June 8, 2004
Abstract: Opinion piece covering the view of Steve Milloy (Cato Institute)
on warnings against the overuse of antibiotics on farmed animals.
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/6/82004f.asp
CONTENTS
- Voluntary Labeling Bill Introduced in US House
- Public Opinion Sought on US Animal ID System
- Brazil Quickly Becoming a Major Animal Farming Country
- Obesity Summit Addresses Causes and Possible Solutions
- Other Items of Interest
RESOURCES
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Farmed Animal Watch is a free electronic news digest of information concerning
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