US Congress Delays Mandatory COOL

[melvill]

Earlier today, the U.S. Senate approved the Omnibus Appropriations Bill (HR 2673) for Fiscal Year 2004 with a 65-28 vote. The Appropriations bill which finances agriculture, veterans and most other domestic programs for the budget year included the two-year delay for Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling. The passage of the Omnibus Appropriations bill confirms a two-year delay on Country-of-Origin Labeling for red meats, fruits and vegetables, and peanuts only, i.e. deadline has been delayed until September 2006. However, both farm and wild raised fish are still subject to the September 2004 deadline

[melvill]

More news on the COOL politicing south of the 49th. The following from the e-mailed newsletter "Beef Cow-Calf Weekly":

While passage of the delay is a blow to COOL proponents, it doesn't mean the political battle is over. That's particularly true in an election year. Following passage of the delay, it was expected that Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), the senate majority leader locked in a tight re-election contest this year, would introduce legislation that would essentially repeal the delay.