Traceability
Country-Of-Origin Labeling
The CLA Board of Directors adopted the following policy at the October 6, 2020 meeting:
WHEREAS, there is recognition about the many adverse aspects of Country-of-Origin Labeling including the costs, benefits, and impact of Country-of-Origin Labeling relative to tracking, auditing, verification, and compliance, and
WHEREAS, CLA opposes mandatory labeling but remains in support of Country-of-Origin Labeling that is voluntary and industry-driven,
WHEREAS, the World Trade Organization declared the implementation of the previous mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling law to be in violation of international trade laws, subjecting the United States to severe retaliatory tariffs unless it was repealed,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, CLA shall continue to oppose mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling laws or regulations that may violate international trade laws, and will continue to support voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling laws or regulations for red meat products that allow maximum benefits and minimal market disruptions.
HB 20-1117 & Colorado Proud
During the most recent Colorado legislative session HB 20-1117 was introduced and was ultimately “laid over” until December 31, 2020 which meant it had no chance of passing this session.
HB20-1117 Misbranding Nonmeat And Imported And Artificial Meat
Concerning the definitions applicable to the misbranding of food, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting failing to label food from animals not born, raised, and harvested exclusively in the United States as imported; prohibiting labeling food that does not come from animals as “meat” or terms that describe meat; and requiring laboratory-grown meat labeling to display notice of its origin.
CLA opposed the bill because of the part that speaks “…to label food from animals not born, raised and harvested exclusively in the United States…” And we feel that it creates another level of bureaucracy that is unnecessary because agriculture producers of all kinds of products can take advantage of the Colorado Proud program to promote their locally grown commodities.
Protein Labeling
Ensuring that all lab-grown meat products are safe and accurately labeled remains one of CLA’s top priorities. Under the terms of an agreement between U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USDA will be responsible for inspecting all facilities that harvest, process, package, or label cell-cultured products derived from livestock or poultry.
A similar dilemma has existed for years in the dairy industry with the mislabeling of plant-based beverages as “milk.” The FDA already has a clear definition of what constitutes milk: “Food products made exclusively or principally from the lacteal secretion obtained from one or more healthy milk-producing animals.” Plant-based beverages don’t meet that standard.
Animal Identification
State Board of Stock Inspection
CLA supports an effective, permanent and mandatory animal identification program that is technology neutral and that is developed by industry partners who agree on an acceptable plan that can be implemented in the most cost efficient manner that does not limit, inhibit or prevent commerce and is uniformly accepted and eliminates variation from state to state.
As an organization we support brand inspection for range cattle, but believe there is reduced value in the inspection of cattle in confinement especially when they do not change ownership. CLA has a longstanding involvement with the brand laws in Colorado.
The Association led the effort to develop the Certified Feedyard Program by directly engaging with the Brand Board and other users of the system. The Certified Feedyard Program reduces fees by allowing a feedyard to self-inspect cattle that are not changing ownership. The feedyard is subject to an audit by the Brand Board on a quarterly basis to verify that all cattle were inspected accurately.
There are 62* full-time and part-time brand inspectors.
There are 21* participants in the Certified Feedyard Program.
There are more than 32,000* registered brands.
Livestock agents inspect over 4 mil head of cattle annually.
*These numbers are according to the Colorado State Board of Stock Inspection at the time of publication in August 2020.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS) has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comments on a proposal by the agency to approve only RFID as the official identification for cattle and bison currently requiring official identification to move interstate. It does not prevent State animal health officials in States sending and receiving cattle from agreeing to accept alternate forms of identification such as registered brands, tattoos, and other methods acceptable to breed associations in lieu of an official ear tag.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS) has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comments on a proposal by the agency to approve only RFID as the official identification for cattle and bison currently requiring official identification to move interstate. It does not prevent State animal health officials in States sending and receiving cattle from agreeing to accept alternate forms of identification such as registered brands, tattoos, and other methods acceptable to breed associations in lieu of an official ear tag.
USDA, APHIS has proposed the following timeline for the possible transition to RFID official identification:
January 1, 2022 – Official USDA Shield only on tags with RFID component.
January 1, 2023 – RFID tags only official identification devices for cattle and bison moving interstate and require RFID component with number that can be read manually and electronically. For cattle and bison with official USDA metal ear tags in place before January 1, 2023, APHIS would recognize these as official identification for the life of the animal.
Background on Traceability
The current USDA Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule went into effect on March 11, 2013 and applies only to interstate movement of cattle and bison. Cattle moving within a state are not covered by this rule. Under the 2013 ADT rule, the following types of cattle must have official identification when moving interstate:
All sexually intact cattle 18 months of age or older.
All female dairy cattle.
All male dairy cattle born after March 11, 2013.
Cattle of any age used for rodeo, show, exhibition, or recreational events.
Colorado Livestock Association Policy AI-101-04 Mandatory Animal Identification states: CLA supports an effective permanent mandatory animal identification program that is technology neutral and that is developed by industry partners who agree on an acceptable plan that can be implemented in the most cost efficient manner that does not limit, inhibit or prevent commerce and is uniformly accepted and eliminates variation from state to state.
THE CLA POLICY BOOK
The CLA Policy Book is written and updated by CLA members. The policies within the book dictate the position that CLA takes on numerous issues throughout the state and within the regulatory arena.