Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/19/2004 03:37 PM Senate RES
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CSHJR(L&C) 35-MAD COW DISEASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELS
CHAIR SCOTT OGAN called the Senate Resources Standing Committee
meeting to order at 3:37 p.m. All members were present. The
first order of business to come before the committee was CSHJR
35 (L&C).
REPRESENTATIVE BETH KERTTULA, sponsor of HJR 35, said that her
staff person would present the bill.
MS. AURORA HAUKE, staff to Representative Kerttula, said that
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is commonly known as mad
cow disease and can be contracted by humans who eat tainted
meat. The disease is invariably fatal and there is no known
cure, but it can be prevented and this resolution supports the
USDA's efforts to prevent the spread of mad cow disease and
encourages earlier implementation of country-of-origin labeling
for beef so consumers can make informed decisions in the
marketplace.
SENATOR FRED DYSON asked what the rationale is for the present
implementation date of 2006.
MS. HAUKE replied that retailers had some concern that it might
be costly to label their products.
SENATOR RALPH SEEKINS asked which countries have diagnosed
bovine spongiform encephalopathy in their animals.
MS. HAUKE replied the U.K., Canada, Italy, France and the U.S.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked how labeling beef with the country of
origin would assist in protecting public health.
MS. HAUKE replied that 42 other countries have country-of-origin
labeling, which is used as a tool for customers to decide which
country they are going to buy meat from in case of a recall
announcement.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA added that some countries use bar codes
so that one could know exactly where a cow came from. If a
recall were needed, it could happen quicker.
SENATOR DYSON asked when in the slaughter-packaging process does
the label get attached.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA replied that she couldn't remember if it
happens when it's packaged by the farmer or at the point of
sale.
MS. HAUKE added that a lot of companies are already labeling
beef and more companies are labeling food. It happens at the
slaughterhouse but, if not there, at the retailer.
SENATOR DYSON said there is some evidence that the last three
infestations in the Northwest had to do with feed. He asked if
the labeling they are trying to encourage is going to take place
on animal feed.
MS. HAUKE replied no. Congress has legislation to label animal
feed and pet food products, but it is not currently labeled.
However, use of prions that cause the disease has been banned in
the feed since 1997.
SENATOR DYSON remarked that the infestation happened despite
that. He asked how labeling anticipated dealing with herds from
Montana, Idaho, North Dakota and Western Washington that go to
Canada to feed lots and mix with the herds there.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA said she didn't know.
SENATOR BEN STEVENS informed them that that's the reason for the
delayed implementation - because of the problem of identifying
the sourcing of the product versus the labeling. The language
says labeling goes on at the point of processing. The same thing
is happening with implementation of seafood labeling.
SENATOR DYSON speculated that the reason for the delay might be
to get the present crisis behind us.
SENATOR STEVENS agreed that that is part of the delay, but there
is also inefficiency in the tracking of the sourcing of the
products.
SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN said that she didn't think any of
this discussion would change the resolve factors.
SENATOR DYSON said the date causes him concern, "But they're not
going to do what we say anyways."
SENATOR STEVENS responded that the delegation was opposed to the
extension of the implementation date for all products that come
into the country and they were successful in keeping it for
seafood. A lot of effort is focused on accelerating the
implementation dates back to their original schedule. The
reality is that labeling is going to cost packaging plants and
they don't want the bill to pass.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA acknowledged that Senator Stevens'
office in Washington D.C. had sent her that explanation as well.
CHAIR OGAN asked if the delegation supports accelerating the
implementation.
SENATOR KIM ELTON moved to pass CSHJR 35(L&C) from committee
with the attached zero fiscal note. There were no objections and
it was so ordered.
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