-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Victory! USDA withdraws meat marketing label claims
   Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 17:16:19 EST
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Thanks to everyone who submitted comments on the proposed meat marketing
standards! Your participation made a difference--see SAC's press
release, below.


SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COALITION

For Immediate Release Contact:  Ann Wright or Ferd Hoefner
April 3, 2003     202/547-5754

COALITION APPLAUDS USDA DECISION TO WITHDRAW MEAT LABEL CLAIMS

The Sustainable Agriculture Coalition today commended USDA's
Agricultural Marketing Service for its decision to withdraw five
proposed meat marketing label claims from the rulemaking process in
order to allow for more time to review and solicit input from farmers
affected by the claims.  The production standards withdrawn from the
process are grass-fed, free-range, and breed claims, as well as
standards that address livestock raised without antibiotics or
supplemental hormones.

"USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has chosen to go back to the
drawing board on the writing of these labeling standards.  Their
decision is in response to a flood of concern from farmers and consumers
that the standards as written would mislead consumers and undercut the
market for value-added meat products developed by innovative family
farmers and ranchers," said Ann Wright, Senior Policy Associate with the
Coalition.

The deadline for public comments was March 31st.  During the open
comment period thousands of producers and consumers registered concerns
about the claims.

In a letter delivered to AMS on March 18, the Coalition joined with 10
other groups -- including Organic Valley Family of Farms, Consumer
Federation of America, Union of Concerned Scientists, The Humane Society
of the United States, and Keep Antibiotics Working: The Campaign to End
Antibiotic Overuse -- to urge USDA to postpone finalizing controversial
meat marketing standards.  The letter asked for a more extensive and
inclusive process that would allow input from family farm, consumer,
humane, and environmental organizations and from sustainable livestock
producers themselves, especially those who have worked hard to establish
markets related to these label claims.

"Family farmers and ranchers who raise livestock using sustainable
methods and their growing base of consumers want a role in establishing
the labeling claims that directly affect their livelihoods and consumer
preferences," said Wright.  "We cannot allow these markets to be
manipulated by the conventional meat industry and we therefore look
forward to working with AMS to ensure that all voices are heard."

"The original proposal, now withdrawn, would have confused consumers and
farmers alike," added Wright.  "Livestock fed grain could have been
marketed as grass-fed and meat from animals routinely fed antibiotics
could have borne labels suggesting the opposite.  Consumer and producer
interest and confidence in these markets are growing and any USDA
standard for a label claim must ensure the integrity of the label."

The Coalition represents farm, rural, and conservation organizations
that advocate public policies supporting the long-term economic, social,
and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources and
rural communities.

The AMS announcement - "USDA to Seek Additional Input on Specific
Livestock and Meat Marketing Claims Standards" - can be found at
www.ams.usda.gov/news/079-03.htm.

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